Sharenting

What is "sharenting"?

‘Sharenting’ is a term used to describe parents sharing images or videos of their children online. By posting things online it allows people to proudly show off their children to friends and family across the world, but there are also some risks that come with it.

When parents are posting the odd picture online of their child, it doesn’t come under the sharenting umbrella. But when family members repeatedly share sensitive information about their children on social media (normally without understanding the possible or future consequences), it is then derided as sharenting.

In most cases, the risks are subjective and you can take steps to protect your child. But sometimes the information a parent posts online can open their child to risks such as grooming when they publicly share details like their child’s first name, age/year level at school or their school.

Potential Issues:

It’s common for people to believe that sharing children’s moments online allows them to connect with family and friends. They think they are creating a digital version of a photo album but in reality, they are creating a digital footprint for their child that anybody could have access to.

Unwelcomed Online attention
When parents share pictures and updates about their children online, it can attract commentators who can use this information to groom children.

Cyberbullying

Children can become targets of cyberbullying when their personal information is shared online, making them vulnerable to harassment, intimidation, and online abuse.

Embarrassment and Humiliation

Children may feel embarrassed and humiliated when their private moments, such as toilet training, tantrums, or accidents, are shared on social media platforms, especially as they grow into adults themselves.

Identity Theft

Sharenting can also put children at risk of identity theft, where their personal information can be stolen and used for fraudulent activities.

Lack of Control

Children may feel that they have no control over their personal information and how it is shared online, leading to a lack of autonomy and privacy.

What Should Parents Do?

Before sharing anything about your child online, ask them first. Children have the same right to privacy as everyone else so they should get to decide whether they want their information shared online.

Don’t share everything and anything. Consider the information you are putting online and avoid personal information such as their full name, date of birth, home address, or school. That should only be shared with a restricted group of trusted people. Be mindful of tagging your children on social media because it can make it easier for strangers to access their information.

Practice what you preach. In the digital age we now live in, parents constantly worry about their children’s social media usage and remind them about their digital footprint growing up. Teach your kids by role-modelling safe online behaviours that respect boundaries and other people’s feelings.

Create a social media policy for your family. Discuss the type of information that everyone wants online, the types of platforms that can be used, and the appropriate way to share information.

Netsafe's top 5 tips

1. Look ahead:

Whenever you want to post something online about your child, it’s worth thinking about the digital footprint(/children-and-young-people/digital-footprints) you are creating for them. Some photos or content may seem harmless now but could lead to something more negative later. Think about how your child might feel about the content you’re sharing once they’re older and how it may affect their future. No previous generation of children has had so public a childhood and not all of them are happy about it when they’re older.

2. Ask for permission:

Does the photo you’re about to post include other people’s children? It’s best if you ask their parents for permission before you post a photo online. If your children are old enough consider asking them if they’re okay for you to share it before you post a photo as well. Asking for permission before you post is a great way to teach them about respect and consent online.

3. Check your privacy settings:

If you’re thinking about sharing a photo of your child on social media it’s important that you first check what privacy settings(/social-media-safety) you have set up. Some social media networks default to public or more open privacy settings when you sign up so make sure what you’re posting can only be seen by the people you’d like to see it.

4. Think about who is in your network:

A lot of people have social media networks that include people they aren’t close to anymore. Make sure you are happy with everyone in your social media network seeing the photo – if you’re not sure or if you’d prefer to share it only with a smaller group consider setting up a private group chat.

5. Consider the personal information in the picture:

Before you hit post, have another close look at the photo to make sure you’re not revealing any personal information about yourself or your child. Some things to look out for include: the name of your child’s school, your road or house number or any other personal or private information that people could use to build a profile of your child – potentially exposing them to identity theft or grooming(/online-abuse-and-harassment/grooming). Parents can protect their children by blurring photos which show uniform logos or crests.

Help! I’m a “Sharenter“

Sharenting is a growing trend among a generation of tech-savvy parents, and while it may seem harmless, it poses various concerns for children’s privacy and security.

Parents should be mindful of what information they share online and how it can impact their children now, or in the future.

By taking appropriate measures to protect their children’s privacy and security, parents can ensure that their children have a safe and positive online experience