Latest news with #babysitters
ABC News
a day ago
- General
- ABC News
Parents warned about hiring nannies and babysitters as families turn away from childcare centres
Child safety experts are warning parents to be vigilant when hiring babysitters and nannies, as families reject formal daycare settings amid ongoing revelations of abuse and neglect. Parents are increasingly looking at alternative forms of childcare as governments grapple with how to improve child safety in daycare centres. "I sent my older two to daycare at eight months," said Sydney mother, Sarah, who didn't want to use her real name. "But by the time I had my third child, there's been all the allegations and stuff, so I was really reluctant to send her somewhere that I didn't have a personal recommendation for. "So we have been paying for a nanny. But the cost of using a nanny is not ideal." The ABC has spoken with dozens of parents reporting the same thing, and even Facebook parenting groups show a flurry of activity as people hunt for babysitters and nannies. Professional nannying services are also seeing an increase in business. "Lots of families do seem like they are losing faith in the childcare system and they're just not willing to roll the dice of these terrible things that are happening," said Lauren Brown, the owner and founder of Nanager and a volunteer board member of the Australian Nanny Association. "So across the board, we are noticing that inquiries are growing." A group called For Parents is taking it one step further and has called on the federal government with a petition to expand the child care subsidy scheme to cover the use of babysitters, nannies and grandparents for care at home. "I think parents around the country we've heard from are losing trust in the system, but they don't have another choice," said Jen Flemming, the co-founder of For Parents. "We would really like fundamentally for parents to have more choice over who is looking after their children." There is a subsidised in-home care scheme available to 3,200 families only, who have unique circumstances such as geographic isolation, unusual working hours or complex family situations that make regular childcare unavailable or not suitable. Mrs Flemming wants that extended. "What we're asking for is the scheme that all kids are eligible for within those parameters that currently exist to give those families more choice. "We believe that there are a lot of low and middle-income families who would significantly stand to benefit from this change," she said, arguing against the subsidies going to a lot of "for-profit childcare centres". Outside of professional nanny agencies, nannies, babysitters, and au pairs who are hired casually are not at all regulated by government agencies. While the Australian Nanny Organisation says it is a requirement for nannies to have a Working with Children Check, it is not policed or enforced in casual settings. Babysitters and nannies don't have to have a police check, first aid certificate or even a tax file number, since many transactions are often cash-based. National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds said any care inside someone's home, whether it was family daycare or with a nanny, had "risks that need to be attended to". "We need to have the same high standards for child safety and wellbeing, whatever the type of care it is," she said. As Ms Brown points out, this type of care, if not managed properly, can pose an even bigger risk because families are basically "welcoming a stranger into their home". "There are those carers that might not be in it for the right reasons. They're in it to go and meet their friend for a play date or, you know, maybe more sinister reasons," she said. In June, a Perth man was charged with sexual offences against children he babysat and in November last year, South Australian police charged a young female babysitter with criminal neglect of a toddler after he was found with suspicious injuries. Professor Michael Salter, director of Child Light at UNSW, which is part of the Global Child Safety Institute, pointed out that there were long-standing issues around the provision of care at home because there was less oversight. In his line of work, Dr Salter said he had come across decades of examples of abuse and neglect at the hands of babysitters or nannies. "It is quite common when we're interviewing or speaking with survivors of child abuse and neglect that some of them will talk about abuse that's being perpetrated, whether it's by a babysitter, whether it's by somebody who's provided in-home care." Babysitters, nannies and au pairs are often essential for families, given the lack of intergenerational living and 'the village'. So, is it possible to make it safer? The group For Parents wants the federal government to include nannies and babysitters in a national register if the subsidy were to be extended to this cohort. Mrs Flemming said it would be similar to OFSTED in the UK, where carers receive a registration number once they have submitted the necessary checks. "It gives parents that sense of reassurance that the person they are talking to has been through a government registration programme," she added. Ms Hollonds agreed. "If we're expanding in any way the use of nannies or other home-based care, then I think those people who are providing the care should be registered and should be checked for their suitability as we have for early childhood educators in other settings," she said. But it would require a lot more resourcing for regulators. Ms Hollonds also warned parents when using nannies or babysitters, particularly if they were found informally, to be "extremely cautious in who they choose to care for their children". That would include ensuring they have a valid and current working-with-children check and police check. Professional nanny Lauren Brown said parents should also check for first aid and CPR certificates, and even run a social media scan. "But I stress this to everyone: call references, speak to someone who knows this person who's worked with this person."
Geeky Gadgets
16-06-2025
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
Social Media Assessment: Your Complete Guide to Personal Safety Screening in 2025
Imagine you've just hired what seemed like the perfect babysitter. Great references, clean background check, wonderful interview. Then, three weeks later, you stumble across their social media posts bragging about getting drunk while 'watching some rich family's bratty kids.' Your stomach drops. Same applies for hiring caregivers for your vulnerable relatives, coaches, tutors, or essentially anyone who comes to work for your family or business. When letting people close to those you love, these are the exact nightmare scenarios that should be avoided. The answer is first carrying out a quick but effective social media assessment – a process that's evolved from optional curiosity to essential family protection. While traditional background checks scan for criminal records, they miss entirely the behavioral red flags social media reveals in stunning detail. And this is all made easy when you use cutting-edge AI tools like Socialprofiler. So, with 56% of women under 50 experiencing unwanted online behaviors and 1 in 10 dating profiles being completely fake, the need for thorough social media assessment has never been more critical. Here's everything you need to know when it comes to carrying out your own social media assessments. What is social media assessment (and why it's different from business screening) Social media assessment is the systematic evaluation of someone's online presence to make informed decisions about personal safety, compatibility, and trustworthiness. This could be as simple as loading up someone's Instagram and having a scroll, but it can be as comprehensive as using online tools like Socialprofiler that can scrape every leading social media profile to generate a report that details absolutely everything you could need to know about someone in explicit detail, saving you time and giving you even better data to make informed decisions. Think of it this way: traditional background checks tell you about someone's past legal troubles, but social media assessment reveals their current personality, judgment, and behavior patterns. All revealing things, like concerning attitudes, poor decision-making, or lifestyle choices that directly impact your safety. The reality is staggering: 60% of people maintain active social media profiles, yet traditional screening completely ignores this goldmine of behavioral information. The average person uses 6.83 different social media platforms monthly, creating a digital footprint that paints a remarkably accurate picture of who they really are when no one's watching. Here's where manual checking falls short—and why Socialprofiler has become indispensable for families serious about safety. While you could theoretically spend days checking Instagram stories, Facebook posts, TikTok videos, and X interactions individually, Socialprofiler's AI analyzes all platforms simultaneously, cross-references connections, identifies behavioral patterns, and delivers comprehensive insights in a fraction of the time. When you need social media assessment: Real-world scenarios that hit home Understanding when to conduct a social media assessment can literally be the difference between safety and regret in the real world. Here are the situations where thorough screening isn't just smart—it's essential. Dating safety verification Everyone knows the world of modern online dating is a bit of a minefield, especially for women who have their very safety to consider. There's a reason 60% of daters research their matches on social media before meeting. The problem is, what's the point if you don't know what to look for or how to conduct comprehensive checks across multiple platforms to get the full picture? If someone really is a danger, why wouldn't they have a fake or basic profile on show with their other profiles kept out of the limelight? The risks are real: romance scams alone cost victims millions annually, and that's before considering the dangers of meeting someone who's online persona doesn't match reality. Red flags like inconsistent stories across platforms limited authentic photos, or concerning behavioral patterns often hide in plain sight on social media—if you know where to look. Childcare provider screening When it comes to the people caring for your children, thorough vetting isn't paranoia—it's parental responsibility. While references and interviews provide valuable insights, social media reveals the unfiltered person behind the professional facade. These aren't people with obvious criminal records—they're individuals whose problematic behaviors and poor judgment only became apparent through comprehensive screening that traditional background checks missed. Social media assessment can reveal crucial character indicators: How do they speak about previous employers or children in their care? Do they show respect for privacy and boundaries? Are there signs of substance abuse, anger management issues, or concerning associations? Eldercare protection Elderly family members represent one of our most vulnerable populations, making caregiver screening absolutely critical. Consider this sobering statistic: 1 out of 10 nursing home residents has experienced some kind of abuse. Elder abuse affects millions of seniors annually, and financial exploitation often begins with seemingly trustworthy caregivers who gradually build access to sensitive information. Social media screening helps identify potential red flags like gambling problems, financial difficulties, or attitudes toward elderly people that might not surface during interviews. It's about protecting those who can't protect themselves. Home service provider verification The gig economy has made it easier than ever to hire contractors, cleaners, dog walkers, and other service providers. While convenient, this also means welcoming strangers into your home based on limited information. HomeAdvisor's comprehensive contractor screening process demonstrates how professional services recognize the importance of thorough vetting. Individual consumers deserve the same level of protection when making personal hiring decisions. However, you get far more control and peace of mind when you carry out the checks yourself, alleviating your own reservations and giving yourself the full picture. Get your first Socialprofiler report today and enjoy an exclusive discount on us. Manual checking vs. AI-powered assessment: Why automation wins every time Sure, you could take all this information and go ahead and start browsing someone's social media profiles to get the truth you're looking for. However, this manual approach is incredibly time-consuming, incomplete, and surprisingly unreliable. The reality of manual assessment Trying to properly assess someone's social media presence manually typically requires 3-6 hours of dedicated research time. You're checking multiple platforms, scrolling through months or years of posts, trying to identify patterns, and attempting to understand context—all while hoping you don't miss something crucial. Human bias inevitably affects interpretation. You might overlook red flags because you like someone, or conversely, focus on minor issues because of an initial negative impression. Inconsistent methodology means different people check different things, leading to wildly different conclusions about the same individual. Most importantly, manual checking often misses the forest for the trees. While you're focused on individual posts, you might miss broader behavioral patterns, concerning connections, or subtle indicators that only become apparent through comprehensive analysis. The AI revolution in personal screening This is where Socialprofiler transforms the entire experience. Watch this video on YouTube. What takes human investigators days to accomplish, Socialprofiler completes in minutes through sophisticated AI algorithms that simultaneously analyze multiple platforms. Comprehensive multi-platform analysis means no more jumping between Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X trying to piece together a complete picture. Socialprofiler aggregates data from all major platforms, providing a unified view of someone's digital presence. means no more jumping between Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X trying to piece together a complete picture. Socialprofiler aggregates data from all major platforms, providing a unified view of someone's digital presence. Pattern recognition capabilities identify behavioral trends that humans consistently miss. The AI analyzes posting frequency, sentiment patterns, interaction styles, and even connection networks to build a comprehensive personality profile. identify behavioral trends that humans consistently miss. The AI analyzes posting frequency, sentiment patterns, interaction styles, and even connection networks to build a comprehensive personality profile. Objective evaluation eliminates human bias through consistent criteria applied uniformly to every assessment. You get the same thorough analysis whether you're screening a potential romantic partner or a childcare provider. Most importantly, Socialprofiler delivers professional-grade insights in an easy-to-understand format. Instead of drowning in raw social media data, you receive clear summaries, risk indicators, and actionable insights that inform your decision-making process. Red flags and green flags: What to look for With all this in mind, let's talk about what to actually look out for. The red and green flags. What constitutes concerning behavior versus positive indicators. Critical red flags that demand attention Behavioral concerns top the list: aggressive communication patterns, frequent conflicts with others, or posts indicate substance abuse problems. These aren't isolated incidents—they're patterns that reveal character. top the list: aggressive communication patterns, frequent conflicts with others, or posts indicate substance abuse problems. These aren't isolated incidents—they're patterns that reveal character. Inconsistency across platforms often indicates deception. Someone who presents as a dedicated professional on LinkedIn while posting about illegal activities on Instagram is showing you exactly who they really are. often indicates deception. Someone who presents as a dedicated professional on LinkedIn while posting about illegal activities on Instagram is showing you exactly who they really are. Privacy extremes cut both ways. Completely hidden profiles might indicate legitimate privacy concerns, but they could also suggest someone hiding problematic behavior. Conversely, massive oversharing often indicates poor judgment about boundaries. cut both ways. Completely hidden profiles might indicate legitimate privacy concerns, but they could also suggest someone hiding problematic behavior. Conversely, massive oversharing often indicates poor judgment about boundaries. Concerning associations matter more than many people realize. Connections to individuals or groups involved in illegal activities, extremist viewpoints, or abusive behaviors can indicate shared values or poor judgment. Positive indicators worth noting Consistency across platforms and time periods suggests authenticity. When someone's LinkedIn professional persona aligns with their Instagram family photos and their Facebook community involvement, you're likely seeing their genuine character. suggests authenticity. When someone's LinkedIn professional persona aligns with their Instagram family photos and their Facebook community involvement, you're likely seeing their genuine character. Appropriate workplace and family interactions demonstrate respect for boundaries and professional conduct. Look for evidence of long-term positive relationships and community involvement. demonstrate respect for boundaries and professional conduct. Look for evidence of long-term positive relationships and community involvement. Authentic engagement with friends and family over extended periods indicates genuine connections rather than manufactured online personas. Remember: context always matters. A single questionable post from years ago carries less weight than recent patterns of concerning behavior. Socialprofiler's AI excels at providing this context, weighing recent activity more heavily while identifying genuine behavioral trends versus isolated incidents. Taking action: Protect your family today Don't wait for a security incident to learn someone's true identity. While manual investigation takes weeks and misses crucial connections, Socialprofiler delivers 97% efficiency gains with comprehensive analysis in minutes, not months. Skip the detective work that investigators charge thousands for. Socialprofiler provides enterprise-grade social media deep search capabilities with 100+ data sources, behavioral pattern recognition, and automated cross-platform analysis that manual methods simply cannot match. Ready to experience professional-grade investigation? Get your comprehensive social media deep search with Socialprofiler today and discover what traditional methods miss. Your safety and peace of mind are worth the investment in AI-powered protection. Start your advanced social media deep search now and join thousands who've transformed their approach to online verification. Filed Under: Guides, Technology News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
CNET
12-06-2025
- CNET
Can You Legally Record Audio or Video on Your Security Camera? I Focus on These Rules
If you're thinking about installing a new security camera in your home, a legal question appears: Is it legal for you to record audio and video anywhere you want in your home? Are there limitations or the possibility of lawsuits from your neighbors? This is something I've thought about a lot as I've tested security cameras in all parts of my home for years. Owners must know when and where it's legal to record everything from their front yard and streets to friends, babysitters, and pet sitters. Breaking privacy laws could lead to fines, lawsuits and other huge headaches. I've gathered all the details below so you'll understand what to avoid and what's safe to do. Let's start with a key rule, the expectation of privacy. Read more: Want Better Home Security? Never Put Your Cameras in These Spots Public vs. private surveillance Common sense about privacy can keep you out of a lot of trouble. Lorex/Amazon First, let's talk about the most important rule when recording video (anywhere). The standard that the courts have widely adopted is called the "reasonable expectation of privacy" and it's very, very important. You can generally set up security cams in your home as you please, but you can't interfere with someone's reasonable expectation of privacy. In practice, that comes down to how people tend to use rooms. Surveilling living rooms, entryways, kitchens or dining rooms is fine because those rooms are more "public" spots used by everyone in the house and are generally highly visible. However, setting up a cam to record video in a bedroom, bathroom or changing room is usually considered illegal without explicit consent, even in your own home. People expect a higher level of privacy in these areas and the law agrees. Minor/dependent limitations also apply: Parents can monitor their baby's bedroom, for example. But when in doubt, apply the rule of a reasonable expectation of privacy. If you do need cams in more private areas, consider disabling them when guests are over. The expectation of privacy is even more important if neighbors are pointing security cameras at you. No one can film you without your permission on private property, like filming your backyard or through your windows. One vs. two-party consent Audio privacy laws are particularly strict if you want to save camera audio conversations. Luis Alvarez via Getty Now let's turn to the big rule in audio recording, which is your local consent laws. Because of the Federal Wiretap Act and similar legislation, states are divided into one-party and two-party/all-party consent laws. In a one-party consent state such as Colorado, Tennessee or Texas, one side of the conversation needs to give consent to be recorded, which makes it legal to record telephone calls you are part of and (in theory) two-way audio conversations you have through a camera. In two-party consent states such as California, Florida or Michigan, both or all sides need to give their consent to have their conservation recorded. It is never legal to record a conversation where no one is giving consent. This consent is usually a verbal affirmation at the beginning of a call or a separate acknowledgement that consent was given. Justia has a guide breaking down the rules by individual state where you can find more information. Four tips to record video in your home Video recording is legal in your home as long as you respect privacy. Lorex/Amazon Let's break down video capture, a primary goal of installing a security camera in your home. Today's cameras use motion detection and frequently have video storage options to automatically save video clips -- both to local storage and the cloud -- when they see people. These steps will help you know what to do. Step 1: Review your state laws Laws about surveillance can vary by state, so if you want to stay safe you need to start by looking up the laws in your own state. State websites, local law firms and others will often summarize these laws for you to save time. Here's a breakdown of California's law as an example. States may have specific laws about hiding security cameras, how you can use security camera recordings in court and if you need permits for specific kinds of security cameras. A few minutes of reading up can give you important parameters to follow. For example, the California law mentioned above has specific language about "intent to invade privacy" and intent to view "the body or undergarments" that can help clarify what's not allowed. Step 2: Follow the 'reasonable expectation of privacy' Don't record video in any area where people expect privacy. Keep recordings focused on common areas such as entryways, porches and primary rooms. Step 3: (For renters) Let the owner know about cameras Property owners broadly have the right to install security cameras on their private property, including inside homes that they own. They don't usually need a permit, either. If you aren't the property owner, the law gets less comfortable with you recording video. When renting, contact the owner of the property if you want to install a security camera and notify them, getting written permission if possible. Sometimes leases will have more specific information on who is in charge of security systems, while other leases have more leeway. Tenants usually have the right to install their own security cameras to watch over the personal space they're legally renting. But letting the owner know can precent future issues. Step 4: Notify guests about cameras, including short-term rentals If you have guests over, hire a nanny or have a friend staying over for a couple of weeks, let them know that you have security cameras, no matter where they are. It's polite and it avoids any chance you could be accused of hiding cameras and recording without consent. Important note: Other regulations can apply in certain circumstances. The best example is Airbnb, which in March 2024 banned all use of indoor security cameras (video doorbells, etc. should still be fine) by Airbnb hosts. Previously, Airbnb had allowed the use of indoor cams in some regions as long as guests were notified. The rules changed -- which is why it's important to look up the details if you aren't sure about the law. Four tips to record audio in your home Apps often offer ways to record or disable audio. Lorex/Amazon Audio recording is a different beast than video recording: It has more legal implications and is traditionally used often as evidence in courts. When audio is involved, people have extra protections. Our rules will help you stay within the bounds of the law. Step 1: Review your state laws (but even closer this time) Find out if your state is a one-party or two-party consent state and check if it has any specific language about recording audio, wiretapping and similar situations. Step 2: Exercise caution if your cam can record audio Camera apps often allow you to record audio -- if you have a Ring Protect plan, for example, you can usually record and download video and audio from a Ring doorbell, then keep it or share it with others. Eufy also gives you the option to record audio when a video is recorded. But recording audio without consent risks crossing an audio law red line, even if it's automatic. It's often up to users to go into apps and disable audio functions for legal safety. Even if a home cam theoretically saved incriminating audio, it might not be usable in court and could lead to countersuits or other problems. Step 3: Get or give consent for any recording If you really want to record audio, find a device that can do it and make sure people are giving consent to be recorded. We suggest getting permission from both sides of a conversation even in one-party consent states, just to stay safe and polite. That's how phone interviews are conducted, for example. Step 4: Avoid false pretenses when recording someone Federal law prohibits recording conversations with criminal or malicious intent and many state laws confirm that with similar wording. Avoid any accidental appearance of blackmail or similar scheming. That includes any effort to try to trick someone into having a certain conversation or saying certain words, or pretending to be someone you aren't while talking to another person. What about outdoor security cameras? Privacy laws apply to outdoor cams too, with a couple of extra considerations. Arlo/Amazon Outdoor security cameras are still on your property (or they should be) and they typically fall under the same laws as indoor cameras. As long as security cameras generally face public spots -- the front of your home, sidewalks and streets -- they fall well within the law. If you're the owner, you have the right to film your backyard and other parts of your property, too. However, you cannot film areas where other people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. That means you cannot film a neighbor's backyard or angle a camera so that it can record through their windows. Many cameras have privacy zones and other tricks you can use to avoid even the appearance of spying on someone. The same rules for audio also apply to outdoor cameras. You'll need one-party or two-party consent to record conversations. Security companies skip that hassle by only allowing live audio. That's why you can talk through your video doorbell, for instance, but can't set it up to record conversations. Finally, if you are renting, make sure to stop by our guide on the best security devices and tips if you're living with roommates, which can create another set of headaches when people start encroaching on your personal space.
