Personal Photos Used As Avatars

[AuntPollyGrey]

Good Morning.

I would be interested to find out what the opinion of the AB team is on the use of personal photos , especially of children , used as Avatars. I concede that it is up to the individual to take the risk of publishing these photos as Avatars, but many users seem unaware of the potential dangers or doing so, treating the suggestion as some sort of joke .

https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/photos-shared-on-pedophile-sites-taken-from-parents-social-media-accounts

Thank you

[woofgang]

Well I wouldn't do it...but as you say personal choice. The morphing of photos is not new. Many many years ago we had an issue on here where a member encouraged others to post links to pics of themselves which he then photoshopped and reposted.

[Bobbisox1]

APG, I’m sorry you’ve seen fit to take your post this far,and sorry that it appears to a one man crusade against Lcg, she’s no fool and would take responsibility for her own actions which I don’t find anything at all wrong with and I have read your link, surely it’s horse for courses and up to us as individuals to assess what we should and shouldn’t do

[ummmm]

And he's still a member!

[SparklyKid]

Hi Bobbie, my avatar is my pet spider,lol.

[Ellipsis]

AB uses avatars supplied by Gravatar. When you sign up for Gravatar you accept their terms, which are here:

https://en.gravatar.com/site/terms-of-service

[Old_Geezer]

Avatars ? I find it difficult to believe a peadeophile could find much to get excited about in a normal family photograph at most about an inch square. They could find more detailed pictures all over the internet or media.

[Bobbisox1]

Morning Sparklykid,mine is Lola my cockerpoo

[ABSpareEditor]

The editor's position on personal information and photographs is clearly outlined in the Site Rules.

- Do not post any personal information belonging to you or others including full name, address or phone number as it can easily be misused by others. We strongly advise you against posting links to personal photographs.

If members wish to use a photo of themselves, or their family as their AB avatar, they do so at their own risk. The editorial team and moderators reserve the right to remove posts or avatars if we believe it is in the member's best interests.

[teacake44]

I've just pasted lola's face onto a great dane. :0)

[Bobbisox1]

Haha TC , Now that I’d like to see

[teacake44]

Ha Ha ha I'm really in love with lola now. Oh gawd, what am I like. :0) :0)

[ABSpareEditor]

If you feel someone is using an inappropriate avatar, please bring this to our attention using the report function, rather than taking it up directly with the member in question.

[teacake44]

Is mine ok ed its my new value range toilet from my local D.I.Y shop. :0)

[AuntPollyGrey]

Thank you editor for your support.
However much a couple of members are trying to spin this into some sort of personal criticism of a certain avatar this could not be further from the truth. Having witnessed first hand the distress of a friend whose wedding photos were harvested from FB, I think everyone should be aware of the real dangers of posting any personal pictures on a completely public website.

[Bobbisox1]

No, APG, you’re wrong, I didn’t want to put spin on your post and I get what you’re saying but as O-G has said it’s a tiny millimetre of a photo , if it was one that another could click on and enlarge but to my knowledge that would definitely be against Site Rules and to even do that, the photo would be greatly pixelated from such a small size

[AuntPollyGrey]

Bobbisox, I have no intention of being drawn into something on the editors blog. I suggest you let it drop, a I have.

[teacake44]

APG we get it! but I think your under estimating the folk on this site. (mature age) and we really don't need any more police on here, do we?

[AuntPollyGrey]

Teacake, on the contrary, I find the young people are very aware of cyber security these days, they get it rammed down their necks at school.

[ABSpareEditor]

This thread is now closed.