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Sharenting is when parents share photos, videos, or personal information about their children on social media. It can document milestones and connect with loved ones, but also raises concerns on issues like privacy invasion, digital footprint exposure, and security risks can have lasting effects on the child’s autonomy and the mental well-being of both parents and children
What Is Sharenting?
The term “sharenting” is a blend of the words “sharing” and “parenting.” It refers to the increasingly common practice of parents posting content about their children on social media. Although the term is relatively new, the trend has rapidly grown in recent years as digital platforms have become an integral part of family life.
Sharenting typically includes sharing photos, videos, milestones, daily activities, or personal stories about one’s children online. For example, a parent posting their child’s:
- first day of school photo
- a birthday celebration video
- achievements
- hobbies and personality
- personal stories
That said, sharenting can have both positive and negative effects on children. While social media offers a convenient platform to share joyful family moments, it’s essential to be mindful of how much and what kind of information you’re sharing. Oversharing can unintentionally expose children to risks such as cyberbullying, identity theft, and online harassment.
In some countries, posting a child’s photo online without their consent may even be considered illegal. That’s why it’s crucial for parents to take precautions—such as adjusting privacy settings, avoiding the disclosure of identifiable information, and always respecting the child’s right to privacy.
Fortunately, there are safer alternatives to publicly sharing family moments. You might consider creating a private family blog, using secure messaging apps, or setting up password-protected photo albums to maintain a balance between connection and protection..
Parenthood In Digital Age
Parenting in the digital age is a rapidly evolving landscape. With the rise of smartphones, social media, and an always-connected world, modern parents navigate a world filled with both incredible opportunities and unprecedented challenges. Technology can empower families to stay informed, entertained, and connected, but it also introduces complex concerns around screen time, online safety, and emotional well-being.
Here are some of the key difficulties and challenges faced by parents today:
1. Screen Time Management
Striking the right balance between beneficial screen use and overexposure is one of the top concerns. Excessive screen time can impact sleep, social development, and attention span.
2. Online Safety and Privacy
Protecting children from online predators, inappropriate content, and identity theft requires constant vigilance and up-to-date knowledge of digital safety practices.
3. Cyberbullying
The anonymity and reach of the internet make it easier for bullying to occur, often without parents being immediately aware.
4. Sharenting and Digital Footprint
Parents themselves contribute to their child’s online presence. Navigating what is appropriate to share while respecting a child’s future autonomy is a growing ethical issue.
5. Tech Addiction and Dependency
Children—and parents—can become overly reliant on devices, impacting face-to-face interaction, outdoor play, and family bonding.
6. Misinformation and Media Literacy
Kids are exposed to vast amounts of content, some of which may be false or harmful. Teaching critical thinking and responsible content consumption is vital.
7. Parental Role Modeling
Children often mimic digital behavior. Parents who are constantly on their phones may unintentionally encourage similar habits.
8. Digital Divide and Access
Not all families have equal access to technology and the internet, which can widen educational and developmental gaps.
9. Privacy Laws and Consent
Understanding evolving digital privacy laws and ensuring children’s data is protected online is a legal and ethical responsibility.
10. Maintaining Real-World Connections
Ensuring children maintain strong interpersonal and offline relationships in an increasingly virtual world remains a major parenting priority.
Even though parenthood in the digital age poses its own challenges, social media has provided parents with a powerful tool to connect with others on social media.
Read More About Parenting Here
Why Mothers Post About Their Children On Social Media?
Sharenting on Facebook has become a common practice among parents who want to share their children’s milestones and daily life with their online community.
According to research 1 Duggan, M., Lenhart, A., Lampe, C., & Ellison, N. B. (2015, July 16). Parents and Social Media. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech; Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Available from: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/07/16/parents-and-social-media/ , mothers share more pictures of their children than fathers on social sites.
Here are some most common reasons for sharenting by mothers
- To Celebrate Their Child’s Achievements
Many mothers feel a deep sense of pride in their children’s accomplishments and naturally want to share those moments with others through social media.
2. To Seek Advice and Support from Other Parents
Sharing updates about their child’s activities often invites feedback, tips, and encouragement from fellow parents, helping mothers grow in their parenting journey.
3. To Stay Connected with Friends and Family
Posting about their children helps mothers maintain a sense of connection with extended family and friends, especially those who live far away.
4. To Preserve Special Memories
Social media serves as a digital scrapbook for many mothers, allowing them to document and revisit their child’s growth and milestones over the years.
How Does Sharenting Affect Mental Health?
Sharing photos online can have unintended negative effects on the mental health of both children and their parents.
While much of the conversation around sharenting has rightly centered on the risks to children—such as privacy invasion and loss of autonomy—there’s also a growing awareness of its psychological impact on millennial parents. Constantly curating a picture-perfect image of family life can lead to stress, comparison anxiety, and the pressure to meet unrealistic parenting standards fueled by social media.
Impact Of Sharenting On Parent’s Mental Health
As per a study 2 Păsărelu, C. R., Dobrean, A., Florean, I. S., & Predescu, E. (2022). Parental stress and child mental health: a network analysis of Romanian parents. Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.), 1–13. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03520-1 , parents’ regular use of social media can have negative impacts.
- Parents may experience feelings of inadequacy, resentment, and a tendency to compare their children with others.
- The pressure to present a perfect family image online can increase stress and emotional strain.
- Sharing personal details about their children may lead to guilt and concern over privacy and safety.
Sharenting And Mental Health Of Children
Research suggests that excessive or inappropriate sharenting affects children’s mental health that can lead to a basic feeling of inadequacy 3 Sanvictores, T., & Mendez, M. D. (2022, September 18). Types of Parenting Styles and Effects On Children. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK568743/ among children.
Here are a few effects of sharenting on kid’s mental health
- Constantly seeking validation and approval from others can lead to low self-esteem.
- They may feel that their privacy is invaded or that their parents care more about likes and followers on social media.
- Spending too much time on social media can be detrimental to mental health, as it can lead to isolation from the real world.
- Children’s self-respect can be affected by noticing negative comments 4 Reijntjes, A., Thomaes, S., Kamphuis, J. H., de Castro, B. O., & Telch, M. J. (2010). Self-Verification Strivings in Children Holding Negative Self-Views: The Mitigating Effects of a Preceding Success Experience. Cognitive therapy and research, 34(6), 563–570. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-009-9289-z online. They can also feel that their value is only based on likes and comments they receive on social media, rather than their inherent worth as a person.
- Sharing information on social media can create pressure on the child to perform or behave in a certain way. Therefore it can cause children to attract more attention in other developmental stages of life.
It’s important for parents to set boundaries and ask for children’s consent before sharing their information online.
How Does Sharenting Affect Children’s Privacy?
Sharenting can significantly affect a child’s privacy, both in the short term and over the long run.
Sharing details such as a child’s full name, personal identity, or even location tags on social media can expose them to various risks. From online predators to identity theft, this kind of information sharing can jeopardize a child’s safety and leave a lasting digital footprint—one they didn’t choose and may not want as they grow older.
- Personal information can be made public.
- Lack of control over online presence.
- Following and harassing 5 Chugh, R., & Guggisberg, M. (2022). Stalking and Other Forms of Dating Violence: Lessons Learned from You in Relation to Cyber Safety. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(9-10), NP6760–NP6784. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520966674 with unwanted attention can cause fear among children.
- Sharing photos without permission.
- Social and emotional implications.
- Abducting children by getting access to their real names and location from parents’ social media posts.
- Humiliating and frightening kids 6 Ademiluyi, A., Li, C., & Park, A. (2022). Implications and Preventions of Cyberbullying and Social Exclusion in Social Media: Systematic Review. JMIR formative research, 6(1), e30286. https://doi.org/10.2196/30286 by writing negative comments on social media posts.
It’s important for parents to be mindful and limit the information that is shared online in order to prevent cyberbullying.
Read More About Bullying Here
Benefits Of Sharenting
The practice of sharing information on social media can be a great way 7 Keum, B. T., Wang, Y. W., Callaway, J., Abebe, I., Cruz, T., & O’Connor, S. (2022). Benefits and harms of social media use: A latent profile analysis of emerging adults. Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.), 1–13. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03473-5 to
1. Foster, a good family functioning
Sharing photos can allow people to stay connected with friends and family 8 Procentese, F., Gatti, F., & Di Napoli, I. (2019). Families and Social Media Use: The Role of Parents’ Perceptions about Social Media Impact on Family Systems in the Relationship between Family Collective Efficacy and Open Communication. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(24), 5006. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245006 , especially those who live far away and share special moments and milestones with them.
2. Saving memories
By sharing their child’s photos and videos online, parents can keep a digital record of their child’s growth and development that can be revisited in the future.
3. Community building
This can help build a community of families and parents going through similar phases. Especially new parents, to feel less alone by getting support from others.
4. Education and Information
Creating digital identity by parents can help children to improve their self-concept.
5. Online career
Some parents use social media for creating kid-focused content. That eventually helps them to earn money through social sites like YouTube, Facebook, etc.
Dangers Of Sharenting
While sharing photos on social media can be a meaningful way to stay connected with friends and family, it also comes with potential risks associated with sharenting, including privacy concerns, digital safety threats, and long-term consequences for children’s online identity.
Let’s identify the perils of sharenting:
- Online Permanence of Children’s Details
Once shared online, photos and personal information can remain accessible indefinitely. This permanent digital footprint can affect a child’s future privacy, reputation, and even opportunities.
2. Emotional Harm
Sharing overly sensitive or embarrassing content can impact a child’s emotional well-being. It may lead to feelings of betrayal, shame, or anxiety—especially as they grow older and become more aware of their online presence.
3. Misuse of Personal Data by Strangers
Public posts containing names, birthdays, school names, or locations can be misused by strangers, posing serious risks like identity theft, online grooming, or digital exploitation.
4. Sharenting Narcissism
In some cases, sharenting may reflect more of a parent’s need for validation than the child’s best interests. This behavior, sometimes referred to as “sharenting narcissism,” prioritizes social approval over the child’s privacy and emotional safety.
Tips For Healthy Sharenting
Parents can still enjoy sharing special moments online while protecting their child’s privacy by following a few key safety tips. Many of the risks associated with sharenting can be reduced by adopting responsible and mindful sharing practices.
1. Types of contents
Try to avoid posting very intimate information about kids, for example, sharing embarrassing images, actual details, or personal details.
2. Privacy settings and Policy
Always recheck your privacy settings and policy on social accounts before posting about kids.
3. Limiting viewers
Try to post information about your kids in a close group or private group of friends on social accounts.
4. Children’s consent
If your child is grown enough, take permission before sharing information about him/her.
Takeaway
While sharenting can be a powerful way to build community and connect with others online, it’s important for parents to remain mindful of the potential downsides—especially cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment. Sharing too much about your child can make them vulnerable in ways that are difficult to predict or control. To foster a healthy, trusting relationship with your child, it’s essential to take proactive steps to protect their privacy and ensure their digital security.
At A Glance
1. Sharenting is the practice of parents sharing their children’s activities on social media.
It includes posting photos, videos, and updates about their kids.
2. Mothers usually share more information about their children than fathers.
They often post about milestones, daily routines, and achievements.
3. Sharenting helps parents save memories online and enjoy them later.
Social media acts like a digital photo album.
4. Sharenting can affect children’s mental health.
It may lead to trust issues, attention-seeking behavior, or embarrassment.
5. Children can be exposed to dangers like stalking, bullying, or kidnapping.
Sharing too much personal information can put them at risk.
6. Parents should follow safe sharenting practices.
Be careful with what you post and who can see it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who coined the term “sharenting”?
Originally the term “sharenting” was first introduced in the Wall Street Journal by Steven Leckhart in the year 2012 and became a recognizable theme.
2. How sharenting can lead to narcissism in children?
The likeability and social affirmation from others on digital platforms can cause children to develop narcissistic behavior.
3. What is digital narcissism?
Digital narcissism is referred to as the excessive activities shared by individuals on social media, practically every day. That may include posting selfies or moments.
4. What is the problem with sharenting?
There are several factors which are considered as dangers of sharenting. Among them, identity theft can be the major issue that is mostly faced by children.
