Introduction
steps, continuing through to graduation ceremonies, proud parents would like the world to witness how their children develop. This sharenting culture (sharing + parenting) is what brings families together, brings happiness, and keeps memories.
In today’s world, as social media plays a cruscial role in our lives, Each press of the button, Each photo, Each story leaves a digital trace, Sometimes lasting longer than childhood itself. Ensuring privacy of your child, putting them in a dangerous situation, and even potentially influencing their future perceptions are only but a few ways in which oversharing can hurt your child.
What is Sharenting?
Sharenting is defined as a way of sharing the lives of their children over the internet on social sites. Think of:
about their children (or stories about them) on the internet, yet most of them acknowledge that they have never given much consideration to the potential long-term impact of those posts.
The Sharenting Underbelly – Safety tips
1. Online Social Media (ages 0 to 5 years old):
Today toddlers have thousands of photos online by the time they get to kindergarten. The complete lifestories
of some of the children are even recorded before they can spell their names.
Geotagging threat: When you upload a photo in the school or playground of your child, it shows what you and your child do day after day.
Identity theft: The names, birthdays or school information in the picture can be used in fraud.
3. Consent & Respect -mindful parenting digital age
Kids have a right to their online identity. Sharing without permission would have an impact on their self-esteem or future relationships.
- Will this humiliate my child in the future?
- Does that disclose individual information?
- Would I like to have someone post the same about me
2. Adjust Privacy Settings -safe social media for families
- Share milestones with trustedfamily members only in Close Friend lists or private groups, or cloud albums.
3. Blur or obscure Sensitive Details.protecting kids’ privacy online
• Obscure school names or house addresses or license plates.
• Crop photos before posting.
Rather, attempt family-sharing applications that are secure.
5. Ask for Your Child’s Consent
- In the case of toddlers, informed consent does not exist, but dignity can still be honored (no potty pictures, no humiliating tantrums).
- And with older kids, engage them– “Would you like me to put this picture of your soccer game up?
6. Limit Identifiable Info
- Rather than Aarav Sharma, Class 3, St. Marys School, caption: So proud of my little champ today!
7. Be Mindful of Viral Trends
A trending reel like #GlowUpChallenge or Then vs Now can be amusing, but it is decades of individual images put
together in a single video – one that can be watched by millions of strangers.
Conclusion & Call-to-Action
Parenting is now different, it is the first generation to raise a child using social media as a baby book. The decisions that we make today will determine the digital reputation of our children tomorrow.The next time you go to the social media and share button, stop, and ask yourself: Is this picture creating a memory-or putting the privacy of my child at risk?
👉 How about sharenting?
Are there family rules on what is good to post and what is not?
Write in the comments your ideas about this contemporary parenting dilemma–I would be interested to see how you manage this contemporary parenting dilemma.
Do check out my other articles below on Parenting
Are we raising resilient kids?
HAPPY PARENTING/SAFE SHARENTING😍
