In today’s increasingly connected world, sharenting has become a common practice among parents. This term refers to the trend of posting photos, videos, and personal information about your children on social media. While sharing special moments of your children’s growth may seem harmless, this habit can pose serious risks to your children’s safety and privacy.
This article, designed for parents, educators, and anyone interested in protecting children online, will provide you with all the information you need on what sharenting is, why it is risky, and how to avoid being involved in potentially dangerous situations. You will also learn what to do if you are a victim of this phenomenon.
What is Sharenting?
The term sharenting comes from the words “share” and “parenting” and refers to the practice of parents sharing photos, videos, and personal information about their children online. While sharing may be done with good intentions, such as celebrating special moments or sharing successes, the habit can have unintended consequences.
Risks and Implications of Sharenting
- Violation of Children’s Privacy : When parents share personal information and images of their children, they expose minors to digital identity risks and unauthorized surveillance.
- Identity Theft and Cyberbullying : The information you post can be collected and used by malicious people to create fake profiles or carry out targeted attacks, such as cyberbullying .
- Digital Future Compromised : Information shared at an early age can have long-term repercussions, impacting children’s online reputations as they grow up.
Why Sharenting is Risky
When you post photos or personal details about your children, you risk compromising their privacy in often overlooked ways. Many images can be used by strangers for malicious purposes, including identity theft or creating fake social media profiles. What’s more, the information shared today can impact children’s digital futures, influencing their reputations as they grow up.
Another important risk is cyberbullying . Data or images published by parents can be targeted by digital bullies or used for manipulation, putting minors in potentially harmful situations.
See: Cyberbullying: How to Defend Yourself and Fight It
How to Avoid the Dangers of Sharenting
Addressing the problem requires a conscious and responsible approach. Before sharing any content online, it is important to think carefully. Asking yourself, for example, whether an image could be embarrassing for the child in the future, is a first step to limiting the risks.
Social media privacy settings also play a crucial role. Configuring your profiles so that your content is visible only to a small group of trusted people is a good practice. However, this does not completely eliminate the risks, as even people who consider themselves trustworthy could unwittingly spread the information you share.
Educating children about digital safety from a young age is crucial. Involving them in the decision-making process about what to share, once they reach an appropriate age, helps them develop digital awareness that will be useful throughout their lives.
What to Do if You Are a Victim of Sharenting
If you discover that your children’s information or images have been shared without your consent or in a harmful way, acting quickly is essential. First, contact the platforms where the content was posted and request immediate removal. Most social media sites offer tools to report privacy violations.
If the content was shared by people you know, address the situation directly, explaining the risks and asking for the material to be removed. If the problem persists or is serious, it is advisable to consult a cybersecurity expert or a lawyer specializing in digital law.
Finally, consider raising awareness about the issue. Sharing your experience can help other parents avoid the same mistakes and help create a more safe online community.
Conclusions
Sharenting may seem like a harmless practice, but the risks associated with it are real and often overlooked. Protecting children’s privacy and safety online is a responsibility all parents should take seriously. Thinking before sharing, setting up social media privacy settings appropriately, and educating your children about digital awareness are the first steps to navigating the online world more safely.
Remember: online safety is not just about technology, it’s about conscious choices. Sharing less today means protecting your children’s future more.
