By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-18 20:40:46 | Updated at 2026-08-20 03:19:39
1 day ago
A detective has revealed the one type of photo that parents should never share of their children on the internet – and it's increasingly common in the summertime.
During the warmer months, many moms and dads upload sweet snaps of their kids swimming in the pool or playing on the beach to their Instagram or Facebook.
But according to Seth Cockerham, a Texas-based detective who investigates crimes against children, the seemingly innocent post could be a lot more harmful than you'd think.
He recently issued a stark warning to parents about the potential dangers of posting pictures of kids in their bathing suits online on his TikTok page, where he has over 282,000 followers.
In the video, Cockerham claimed that he often finds photos of children in swimsuits that were shared online by parents in the possession of men who are being investigated for child exploitation.
'These innocent pictures that parents are putting on social media, I've found them in men's storage devices,' he warned.
'You may never know where it goes [when you post it]. Would you be okay with an adult male or female having these pictures of your kids in swimsuits on their phones or storage devices?'
He also explained that the rise of AI has introduced a slew of new dangers when it comes to sharing content with young kids online.
Seth Cockerham, a Texas-based detective who investigates crimes against children, issued a stark warning to parents about posting photos of their kids in swimsuits online - even if their account is on private
'You would be very surprised by the things people could do with AI just by having a picture of someone's face,' he said.
'If you give them any more things to look at, birthmarks, anything like that, that they can recreate on an AI body, they're gonna do it.'
He added that even if your profile is set to private, it can still be risky to share pictures of your kids in swimsuits.
'I've seen people with 400, 500, 600 followers on a private account - how well do you know those people?' he questioned.
'Statistically speaking, 93 percent of child sex abuse is perpetrated by a family member or friend.'
With the rise of social media and 'momfluencers' some parents have made a career out of sharing their kids' lives online with millions watching at home.
Cockerham spoke further about it to Today during a recent interview, reiterating that you may not know exactly who is following you online.
'People are so good at hiding their attraction,' he told the outlet.
Cockerham has over 282,000 followers on TikTok, where he often uses his expertise to share advice to parents
Thankfully, Cockerham said there are some precautionary measures parents can put in place when it comes to sharing their kids on social media.
He recommended that parents take a 'pause' before they post a picture of their child to the internet to ask themselves if it reveals 'more of their child’s body than necessary.'
He stressed that any photo posted online should make sure not to give away any revealing personal information, such as where the child attends school.
'I never want my kid to be on somebody’s storage device,' Cockerham stressed.
