Sharenting: Have you fallen into this common parent-trap?

Being a parent amidst the charm of the internet and social media is alluring and challenging. The instant gratification we get from likes and comments on our kids photos is too high to resist. However, the attention we get while sharing the lives of children on social media can lead to negative consequences of what experts are calling ‘Sharenting’. Find out a bit more on it below.

How did we get the term sharenting?

Coined by Steven Leckart back in 2010, sharenting can be defined as the practice of millennial moms and dads oversharing a multitude of information in all forms - text, video and photos - of their children on social media platforms. Parents may unwittingly compromise their child’s online safety through this activity, make life more awkward for the kid, or even invite cyber bullies and predators. We got the term precisely because these unfortunate incidents were actually happening. To make it worse, no parent wanted this outcome, so it was terrible for them.

Is there any research on sharenting?

According to a study by Pew Research, videos with children under the age of 13 receive three times as many views on average than other videos. This can be a lucrative business model for vlogger or blogger parents. Many parents create child accounts on social media even before kids are born, including ultrasound snapshots on social media announcing parenthood. This innocent activity, as researchers and law enforcers point out, can lead to identity theft and digital kidnapping. Photos and videos are stolen by criminals who create fake identities with them. According to a study by Barclays University, by 2030 ‘Sharenting’ might reap almost £670 million in cyber frauds! A Harvard professor, Leah Plankett, has actually written a book called Sharenting to warn parents of the pitfalls.

What can parents do to avoid sharenting?

We all love our children and are justifiably proud of them. But when we document too many personal details of very young children with complete strangers, we might invite trouble. So it’s wiser to share with friends, and not with everyone in general. If the child is above 7, parents ought to explain before sharing. And for teens, parents should ask for permission before sharing.