This Humble Brag Is Actually Putting Your Kid’s Security At Risk

What started as a creative workaround during the lockdown days of COVID-19 has become a feel-good fixture of graduation season: lawn signs adorned with a child’s name, photo, school and graduating class. You may have seen them around your own neighborhood from kindergarten “moving up” moments to high school and college milestones. But as these signs grow in popularity, some security experts and privacy advocates are raising a red flag.

Kaylen Schroeder, a mom to a 5-year-old, said she put up a sign for her son’s pre-kindergarten graduation ceremony at her mom’s house instead of their own.

“He doesn’t actually live there and there was no photo or name,” said Schroeder. ”We just did not feel safe putting one in our yard because we are not as familiar with our neighbors as I am at my mom’s house.”

Instead she opted to celebrate her son at her home by throwing a party and focusing on starting new traditions around these major milestones.

“I did self-defense instructor classes at the University of Florida police department,” said Schroeder. “One of the topics we went over was car decals. The things that say honor students or the sport they may play gets targeted a lot. We treated those yard signs the same way.”

These personal displays, while festive and proud, may unintentionally expose kids to privacy and safety risks — from identity theft to location tracking. Here’s what parents should consider before planting one in the yard.

Graduation yard signs have become a beloved way for families to celebrate their children’s milestones, but these signs can often include: a photo, age, school, and even the college the student is planning to attend. These are all pieces of information that can be useful to scammers, identity thieves, or even strangers with bad intentions.

“Everyone has to consider the risks in their own local environment,” Dr. Neha Pathak, WebMD Chief Physician Editor, health and lifestyle medicine. “Along with names and grades on yard signs, people should be equally thoughtful about what they post on social media about their children. Particularly at the beginning and end of the school year.”

She adds that there are a few other safety concerns that include:

By placing a sign in your front yard, you’re essentially broadcasting that your child lives at a specific address. That can open up risks ranging from doxxing to unwanted attention, especially if the sign includes a photo of the child or a school name that pinpoints their daily routine.

Photos of these signs often get posted online by proud parents. Once shared on social media — especially without privacy settings — they can be scraped or misused, adding to a child’s digital footprint without their consent.

For families with more than one child, yard signs over the years can unintentionally reveal family patterns — like ages, school tracks, or even when a house might be empty during college drop-offs or vacation.

“It’s important to have a conversation with your children about how much of their information may be out in the world so they should be particularly mindful of strangers that might know their name or what school they go to,” said Pathak.

If you’re concerned about privacy but still want to celebrate your child’s graduation in a meaningful way, here are some safer alternatives to traditional yard signs:

Create a festive display on your front door, porch, or windows—balloons, streamers, or a sign which avoids sharing personal info while still showing your pride.

If you do want a yard sign, consider using just your child’s first name or nickname, and skip the school name, photo, or future plans.

“For example, a sign that says, ‘congratulations graduate!’ can still be celebratory without sharing details about the grade, age, gender, name of your child,” said Pathak.

Parades also became popular during the COVID-19 lockdowns, so opt to decorate your car and drive by friends’ homes or attend a school-organized graduation parade. These celebrations are fun, mobile, and less likely to leave long-term digital traces.

T-shirts, banners, or reusable yard flags with more general messages can be a safer way to show your excitement without giving away your child’s identity.

“I have yard signs up in my own yard with school names, but I do not post my children’s names in yard signs or on social media,” said Pathak.

Invite family or close friends for a graduation brunch, backyard party, or virtual toast. Celebrating in a more personal setting can be just as meaningful — and much more secure.

These alternatives let you cheer on your graduate without putting their personal information on public display.

“Community is an important thing and we often want to share these milestones in our communities,” Pathak said. “Every parent has to make their own risk assessment. But beyond whether or not to put up a yard sign, I think it’s an important launching pad to have a conversation with your children about how much information about them might be out in the world: A stranger is still a stranger, even if they seem to know your name and where you go to school.”