YOUNG CREATORS · RESPONSIBLE MAKING
What should my tween check before using a photo, song, font, or video clip in a creative project?
Using media created by others can enrich a tween’s project, but it raises questions about permission, licences, and attribution. This article lays out clear, low-cost checks a tween and responsible adult can do before including photos, songs, fonts, or video clips. It emphasises adult co-review, documentation, and accessible crediting practices rather than legal advice.
Start with the basics: who made it and what licence applies?
Before using any media, find out who created it and what licence or terms are attached. Some items are explicitly released for reuse, others require permission, and some are free for non-commercial use but not for public posting. If you can’t find licence information, treat the item as “all rights reserved” and don’t use it without asking the creator.
Practical steps: look for an explicit attribution line, a licence badge (e.g., Creative Commons), or a terms-of-use page on the website where you found the item. If the media came from an app or platform, check the item’s page for license notes or the platform’s help pages for guidance. Platform and jurisdiction rules differ—consult official platform resources for current licensing and usage behavior.
Photos and images: permission, metadata, and alt text
Check three things for photos: creator permission/licence, identifiable people or places, and metadata that might reveal location. If the photo contains people, especially children, you need permission to use it beyond private family viewing. If faces are clearly visible and you plan to share beyond family, obtain written permission or use images that are explicitly licensed for reuse.
Low-cost verification steps: 1) Reverse-image search to locate the photo’s original source and licence information. 2) Inspect image metadata for location tags and strip them if privacy requires it. 3) Add alt text when you use the photo in a project so viewers who use screen readers can understand the image content. Keep alt text descriptive but avoid adding private details (e.g., don’t include a street name).
Songs and audio: licences, samples, and attribution
Audio is commonly protected by copyright. Verify whether an audio file is in the public domain, licensed under terms that allow your use (such as certain Creative Commons licences), or needs permission. If you’re sampling audio or using part of a track, check the licence for permitted derivatives. Don’t rely on fair use assumptions—fair use rules can be context- and jurisdiction-specific.
Low-cost checks: 1) Find the audio source and read the licence or terms of use carefully. 2) If the track requires attribution, include an appropriate credit in the project metadata or on an end card. 3) Consider creating original sound or using clearly labelled, licence-permitting sound libraries; always record the licence URL or screenshot the licence page as documentation.