What is Sharenting?

Sharenting is the practice of parents or caregivers sharing personal information, photos, and videos about their children on social media platforms, blogs, or other public online spaces. While it has become increasingly common in the digital age, sharenting has sparked debates about privacy, consent, and the digital future of children.

The term "sharenting" emerged as a combination of the words "sharing" and "parenting" to describe parents who overshare about their children's lives online. This trend gained momentum with the widespread use of social media, particularly platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and more recently, TikTok, where parents often post updates about their children, from milestones and daily activities to photos and videos.

Parents often engage in sharenting by sharing a variety of content, including photos and videos of milestones like first steps or birthdays, personal stories about their child’s life, health and medical updates, education-related achievements, and everyday moments like vacations or meals. They do this to celebrate their child’s growth, stay connected with distant family and friends, create a digital scrapbook of memories, and build a sense of community by connecting with other parents for advice and support.

Sharenting does, however, come with several risks, primarily regarding the loss of privacy. Children have no control over what is shared about them online, creating a digital footprint that can be permanent and difficult to erase. As they grow older, children may feel uncomfortable with how they were portrayed or may not want their past moments shared publicly. Sharing personal details like locations or routines can expose children to safety risks, including cyber threats. There’s also the potential for cyberbullying, as children may face teasing or bullying about past posts once they become aware of their online presence.

Sharenting raises concerns about a child’s autonomy and privacy. Many argue that parents should be cautious, as children cannot consent to their digital presence.

To sharent responsibly, it’s important to respect your child’s privacy by considering whether they would be comfortable with the content being shared. Limit oversharing by avoiding sensitive information, such as medical details. Adjust your privacy settings to control who can view your posts and avoid real-time posting to maintain some level of privacy. As your child grows, involve them in the decision by asking for their permission before sharing. For preserving memories, consider using password-protected platforms to privately archive photos and videos.
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