Hazards Associated With 'Sharenting' on Social Media: Safeguarding Your Children's Privacy

The internet adores wholesome content featuring kids, but how far should we go in an attempt to share our children with the world?

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | June 24, 2023

Science has been grappling with the impact of social media on our society, particularly how it affects vulnerable children and adolescents. A 2022 review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health distilled over 68 studies conducted around the topic of social media use in children and adolescents and found that there are a number of risks. Here are some of the most notable issues that stem from unregulated social media use in childhood and adolescents:

  • Depression
  • Diet-related issues
  • Psychological problems
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Addiction
  • Reduced physical activity
  • Online grooming/predators

Clearly, social media can have negative consequences for your child, especially if they are unable to use it responsibly. But, what if the decision to be on social media was not theirs? Is it possible that 'sharenting,' which refers to the practice of some parents oversharing sensitive information about their children online, could lead to similar negative effects? How does this practice affect our children's privacy and identity?

As it turns out, the news is grim on the identity front as well as the mental health front.

Barclays, in a 2018 report, estimated that by the year 2030, sharenting by millennial parents could lead to identity fraud that could cost us close to $900 million per year in damages. The bank noted that parents who share the lives of their children online are often "lulled into a false sense of security," possibly owing to the ubiquity of social media.

This false sense of security along with a desire to 'show off' their children can lead to many young parents unwittingly giving out a number of key details about their children, which can then be used by fraudsters to steal their identities. Innocent as they may seem, some of these key details are:

  • Full names
  • Ages
  • Dates of birth
  • Home addresses
  • Names of schools
  • Names of pets
  • Photographs

Identity-theft risks aside, here are two negative mental health consequences sharenting can have on children.

#1. Sharenting can cause a rift in the parent-child relationship

A 2019 study published in the journal Children and Youth Services Review found that adolescents were largely disapproving of the practice of sharenting, especially when they felt the parental motives behind sharenting were to do with impression management. The study discovered the most common reaction adolescents had towards sharenting was that it is "embarrassing and useless." The notable exception was when the motive was information archival.

Previous studies have shown us how important a person's relationship with their parents (and parenting style) can be in terms of their overall well-being. This is why it is important that children must never be exploited or feel like they don't have a say in how they are represented online.

Parents need to be mindful of their motives when engaging in sharenting. Instead of prioritizing self-promotion or seeking validation through their children's lives, parents should prioritize the well-being and privacy of their children. Open and honest communication about online sharing, obtaining consent, and respecting their children's boundaries can foster healthier digital practices and maintain a positive parent-child relationship.

#2. Sharenting can lead to unhealthy comparison and insecurity among children

Social comparison is a well-known result of adolescent social media use. For instance, a 2022 study published in The Journal of Psychology found that adolescents who used Instagram intensively tended to compare themselves to their peers in unhealthy ways that can impact their susceptibility to emotions.

With sharenting, although the children may not be directly involved in scripting and strategizing their social media presence, the effects of social comparison can still come through. This can happen in a few ways:

  • Parents may push their children harder than they need to, all for a few extra likes or shares.
  • Children may internalize the pressure to perform and constantly seek validation through social media metrics, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and self-worth.
  • Comparisons with other sharented children's lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy and a distorted sense of self, as children perceive themselves as falling short in comparison to their online peers.

Conclusion

By being mindful of the potential consequences and staying informed by research and expert insights, millennial parents can navigate the boundaries of responsible sharenting. Let's strive for a digital landscape that respects our children's privacy, protects their well-being, and allows them to grow and flourish in a connected world.