A UK school has disguised children in online photographs with acid house-style smiley faces. The move was to protect the children from unwanted attention but as the school used a popular symbol of the acid house raving scene in the late 1980s it has just attracted attention. Even the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the school may have gone "too far".
The headteacher of the Cann Hall Primary School said: "The public nature of the internet is an issue we feel strongly about. Not all parents want their children's picture on there. You can't say what is going to happen with any of those pictures."
But if they had not used symbols of the acid house raving scene I could be pretty confident that the children's pictures would not be in almost every UK newspaper! The thing is could be the start of another UK trend?
Acid House Smiley Kids
Has UK School Gone Too Far?
Trend Themes
1. Online Child Protection - Opportunity for companies to develop innovative technologies or solutions to protect children's privacy and well-being in the digital age.
2. Symbolic Disruption - Potential for businesses to leverage popular symbols or cultural references in creative ways to attract attention and stand out from competitors.
3. Reshaping Traditional Images - An opportunity for industries to challenge traditional norms and redefine how images are presented or shared in order to address evolving privacy concerns.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Developing advanced AI tools or digital platforms to enhance online child protection measures and ensure the privacy of young individuals.
2. Marketing and Advertising - Utilizing disruptive and unexpected symbols or references to create memorable and engaging campaigns that capture audience attention and drive brand awareness.
3. Education - Integrating digital literacy and online safety education into school curricula to empower children and parents with the necessary skills to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.