Family And Parenting
Sharenting: What Not To Share On Social Media
8 min | Updated on 30-03-2023 by HappyPreggie
If there’s anything that parents love to do, it’s talking and showing pictures of their children. Every little gesture is wonderful and special, and we want to capture those moments and share it with everyone. It’s normal and common, especially in the time we are living in. Taking pictures of your child and sharing it with the people around you can also be a way to keep records of their accomplishment and achievement. Whenever your child is feeling especially low, you can sit down together, show the pictures and tell the stories of each accomplishment - reminding him that you are proud of what he has done. Sharenting, if done right, can show love, pride and also build community.
The act of parents sharing about their children has become so common that a particular term has been created: sharenting. The term is derived from two words that are share and parenting.
Sharenting, or oversharenting, is when parents continually post images, videos, and information about their children on the Internet. In other words, it is the practice of documenting a child's life on social media - from little memories to significant events.
Most people think it's no big deal because almost everyone shares on social media. And that's probably the truth most of the time, but there are instances where sharenting too much or too personal details can put you - or your child, in a tight spot. According to The New Yorker, a study found that by 2030, sharenting will cause nearly two-thirds of identity-fraud cases affecting today's children.
Sharenting can be for different reasons, depending on each parent's intention, such as:
Many factors can put parents or the child in danger when parents start oversharing information. The risks of oversharenting include:
Social media algorithms often boost children's pictures, so posting cute pictures of your child can be tempting if you aim for social media fame. However, it can also attract unwanted attention. Posting too many pictures of your child as they grow may make them a target for child predators. If you're not careful with what you post, such as sharing personal information, you may unintentionally increase the risks and dangers to your child.
The number of bullying cases varies worldwide, but one thing is clear: it's a problem everywhere. The Internet has enabled bullying beyond the school site; now, it can go on 24/7 due to social media. In many cases, victims of cyberbullying tend to self-harm as a way of escapism.
If you had put your child's life moments on the Internet, you have most likely given the bullies more reasons to pick on your child. All a bully has to do is go through your social media accounts and find all the pictures and videos you uploaded. Even if you deleted them, the damage is already done. Your child may even blame you for posting the photos and videos.
Many companies collect data about their consumers by providing services, then sell it to advertisers. These advertisers use the information to target you with specific ads, attracting you to buy something. Most adults have only dealt with their data being sold since they were teenagers. However, the younger generations - your child's generations - are having their data collected as soon as you put their information online.
Your child's information is bought and sold since they are babies. When you upload pictures and videos on the Internet, you're selling their data to companies, which will then sell it to advertisers. These advertisers are accessing your child's data before they are even old enough to be aware of it.
A child's sensitivity to self-image may increase when they enter their early teens. In this case, your child may get embarrassed with the pictures you took and uploaded when they were a child. They may also have lower self-esteem, affecting their peers' social interaction.
Furthermore, letting your child grow up with lots of social media attention may pressure your child to keep getting the attention. Your child may do outrageous things to ensure their social media attention, leading them down a dark path. Attention-seeking behaviour is an unhealthy habit that has destroyed many older children and young adults.
Ensure the photos you take on your phone don't contain metadata by turning off geotagging in your camera settings. It's advisable to check this feature regularly because software updates may default to sharing metadata.
Remember that your child also deserves privacy. They may not care what you share now, but as they grow older, they may resent you for sharing too much on social media - where everybody can see and tease them. They may be unable to express their upsetness, but they are unlikely to thank you if their friends start finding the contents in the future.
Your child may see you as gadget-obsessed if you constantly share on social media. Because they are young, they may follow your actions and get addicted to devices. If this matter is not taken care of, it may affect your child's development. Read through our article on How To Stop Your Child's Gadget Addiction.
(Image credits to Dr. Pamela Rutledge)
There are various reasons parents like sharing photos, such as to keep records of memories and creating albums online. Sharing also helps parents feel less lonely when going through difficult patches in the parenting journey. However, sharing photos and videos of your child on social media comes with risks, and as a responsible parent, we must know how to share safely. After all, we do not want our mishap to hurt our children in the long future. What Is Sharenting?
The act of parents sharing about their children has become so common that a particular term has been created: sharenting. The term is derived from two words that are share and parenting.
Sharenting, or oversharenting, is when parents continually post images, videos, and information about their children on the Internet. In other words, it is the practice of documenting a child's life on social media - from little memories to significant events.
Most people think it's no big deal because almost everyone shares on social media. And that's probably the truth most of the time, but there are instances where sharenting too much or too personal details can put you - or your child, in a tight spot. According to The New Yorker, a study found that by 2030, sharenting will cause nearly two-thirds of identity-fraud cases affecting today's children.
Why Parents Do Sharenting
(Image credits to SBS)
Sharenting can be for different reasons, depending on each parent's intention, such as:
- Curating the perfect image
- Sharing struggles
- Keeping in touch
Why Oversharenting Can Be Dangerous
Many factors can put parents or the child in danger when parents start oversharing information. The risks of oversharenting include:
#1 You Could Attract Unwanted Attention
(Image credits to iStock)
Social media algorithms often boost children's pictures, so posting cute pictures of your child can be tempting if you aim for social media fame. However, it can also attract unwanted attention. Posting too many pictures of your child as they grow may make them a target for child predators. If you're not careful with what you post, such as sharing personal information, you may unintentionally increase the risks and dangers to your child.
#2 It Gives Bullies Ammo
(Image credits to The Rakyat Post)
The number of bullying cases varies worldwide, but one thing is clear: it's a problem everywhere. The Internet has enabled bullying beyond the school site; now, it can go on 24/7 due to social media. In many cases, victims of cyberbullying tend to self-harm as a way of escapism.
If you had put your child's life moments on the Internet, you have most likely given the bullies more reasons to pick on your child. All a bully has to do is go through your social media accounts and find all the pictures and videos you uploaded. Even if you deleted them, the damage is already done. Your child may even blame you for posting the photos and videos.
#3 You're Selling Their Data
(Image credits to IntoTheMinds)
Many companies collect data about their consumers by providing services, then sell it to advertisers. These advertisers use the information to target you with specific ads, attracting you to buy something. Most adults have only dealt with their data being sold since they were teenagers. However, the younger generations - your child's generations - are having their data collected as soon as you put their information online.
Your child's information is bought and sold since they are babies. When you upload pictures and videos on the Internet, you're selling their data to companies, which will then sell it to advertisers. These advertisers are accessing your child's data before they are even old enough to be aware of it.
#4 It Can Create Social Pressure
(Image credits to TheAsianParent)
A child's sensitivity to self-image may increase when they enter their early teens. In this case, your child may get embarrassed with the pictures you took and uploaded when they were a child. They may also have lower self-esteem, affecting their peers' social interaction.
Furthermore, letting your child grow up with lots of social media attention may pressure your child to keep getting the attention. Your child may do outrageous things to ensure their social media attention, leading them down a dark path. Attention-seeking behaviour is an unhealthy habit that has destroyed many older children and young adults.
How To Sharent Safely On Social Media
- Limit Your Followers and Friends
- Turn off Metadata
Ensure the photos you take on your phone don't contain metadata by turning off geotagging in your camera settings. It's advisable to check this feature regularly because software updates may default to sharing metadata.
- Double Check Before You Post
- Think Before You Post
- Ask Them First
- Don't Depend On Likes
Remember that your child also deserves privacy. They may not care what you share now, but as they grow older, they may resent you for sharing too much on social media - where everybody can see and tease them. They may be unable to express their upsetness, but they are unlikely to thank you if their friends start finding the contents in the future.
Your child may see you as gadget-obsessed if you constantly share on social media. Because they are young, they may follow your actions and get addicted to devices. If this matter is not taken care of, it may affect your child's development. Read through our article on How To Stop Your Child's Gadget Addiction.
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