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In the past, parents would warn their children about "stranger danger," advising them to be cautious around people they don't know, especially when out in public. However, one of the growing dangers children may face today is on social media, and it comes from an unexpected source: their parents.In 2023, a study by Secure Data Recovery found that 73% of Americans don't personally know everyone who views their posts, with 68% admitting they share photos or posts about their children. When parents "sharent" (share pictures of their kids on social media), it can have unintended consequences for their children's privacy, safety, mental health, and even future prospects.
Keen to learn more about sharenting and the risks it poses? Click through this gallery now.
A portmanteau of "sharing" and "parenting" coined in 2010, sharenting refers to the practice of parents publicizing large amounts of content about their children on internet platforms.
In 2015, a survey found that 74% of parents using social media knew another parent engaged in sharenting behavior. A further 56% said the parent shared embarrassing information about their child and 51% said the parent provided details that revealed the child's location.
Experts reported that the sharenting trend grew during the pandemic because quarantine meant connecting mostly through the internet. The growing popularity and financial success of parenting influencers have also contributed to this increase.
Examples of sharenting include parents sharing a photo of their child doing something they're proud of, uploading video footage of a prank played on their child, and using their teenager's personal experiences as evidence during a social media argument.
Children can face tangible harm from content shared about them online. Predators may use information from parents' posts, such as the name of their child's school, to track them down offline.
In some countries, data brokers create digital profiles of children based on the information shared about them. They may be able to make predictions about what children will say or do, or what health issues they might face in the future based on this data.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced and "deepfakes" grow increasingly realistic, the threat of children's images being repurposed for nefarious purposes poses significant harm to them.
A 2024 report issued by Human Rights Watch revealed that AI is being trained on images of real children without consent. If children and their families lose control over how their images and data are used, it could potentially have lifelong consequences.
In 2010, a study by AVG Technology found that 92% of American 2-year-olds had an online presence. Experts believe this number has most likely increased.
If parents don't involve their children in the decision-making process regarding what is shared online, they miss an opportunity to teach them about consent and demonstrate the importance of privacy.
Children like to have autonomy, and if they aren't involved in the image-sharing process, it can lead to feelings of resentment and a diminished sense of self-worth as their preferences and boundaries are overlooked.
Young children can't give informed consent about sharing their images online, so parents should consider the potential long-term implications of posting these images and how their child would feel if they were able to articulate their perspective.
Experts say parents should stay off their devices when spending time with their children so they can be present in the moment and allow kids to create memories that exist separately from the images and videos captured on their devices.
Parents who overshare their children online can unknowingly put pressure on their kids by creating an idealized image of who their child is, leading to dips in self-esteem and self-worth.
If parents post about their child's performance or personality flaws, it could impact their future educational and professional prospects. A survey from 2017 found that nearly one in five organizations decided not to employ a candidate based on what the employer saw online.
Parents should avoid sharing overly personal information about their kids, including embarrassing stories or pictures. No matter how funny it may seem, they should try to see it from their child's perspective.
Parents could talk to their children about what they are sharing and the process they go through to decide if something is appropriate to share. This helps children understand the thought process behind it and gives them the opportunity to consent to photos being shared.
While the majority of the responsibility falls on parents, policymakers and digital platforms also need to ensure that online spaces are safer for children.
Having an honest conversation with friends and extended family about sharing information regarding children on social media will help establish boundaries about what they can or cannot share online.
For schools and other organizations, parents can ask if a social media sharing policy exists. If it doesn't, they could offer to help create one to recognize that other parents may also want to have control over their children's images and the information shared about them online.
While sharing can never be 100% safe, parents should consider the audience they are sharing their content with and the privacy settings they have enabled.
If a parent is rethinking how much they share and have shared, the first step is to review their platforms and delete what they can. In some cases, they can request to have an image removed if they are unable to do so themselves.
Some parents share their children on social media as a way to connect with loved ones, allowing friends and family members from all over the world to stay up-to-date with their parenting journey.
Having a digital record of your child's life has its benefits and can be enjoyable to look back on. However, if it's online, there's a good chance that other people have access to it as well.
From venting about parenthood to seeking advice or just having someone else who shares the same experience, there's a space online for that. Unfortunately, anyone can join these spaces, and they may not have pure intentions.
If you want to share updates about your child on social media, use photos where they are not easily identifiable, such as pictures of the back of their head or using an emoji to cover their face.
Parents with a history of trauma may need help understanding and respecting their children's boundaries, especially if their own boundaries have been repeatedly violated in the past.
Studies show that an increase in social media use leads to a decrease in self-esteem. Research suggests that sharenting posts aren't entirely about children; rather, they primarily serve to craft and validate the parent's self-image.
Some parents, especially mothers, lose their identity when they have children, as their lives revolve around their kids. This may cause boundaries to blur and result in their digital identity becoming centered on their children.
Sources: (UNICEF) (Cleveland Clinic) (CNN) (Tinybeans)
See also: What happens when you quit social media?
The risks of sharing your kids' lives online
Sharing isn't always caring
LIFESTYLE Sharenting
In the past, parents would warn their children about "stranger danger," advising them to be cautious around people they don't know, especially when out in public. However, one of the growing dangers children may face today is on social media, and it comes from an unexpected source: their parents.In 2023, a study by Secure Data Recovery found that 73% of Americans don't personally know everyone who views their posts, with 68% admitting they share photos or posts about their children. When parents "sharent" (share pictures of their kids on social media), it can have unintended consequences for their children's privacy, safety, mental health, and even future prospects.
Keen to learn more about sharenting and the risks it poses? Click through this gallery now.