Sharenting describes the act of parents habitually posting photos, videos, and detailed information about their children online. This practice creates a child's digital footprint, often without their consent, raising significant concerns about privacy, security, and future digital identity.
Sharenting is a portmanteau of "sharing" and "parenting," referring to the act of parents or guardians documenting and broadcasting their children's lives online. This includes posting images, videos, personal stories, and sensitive information on social media, blogs, and other digital platforms.
Key Components
- Parental Sharing: The content is created and distributed by a parent or legal guardian.
- Child-Centric Content: The subject of the shared material is a minor child, encompassing everything from milestone announcements to daily activities.
- Digital Platforms: The dissemination occurs on public or semi-public internet platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and personal blogs.
Historical Context or Origin: The term "sharenting" was first popularized in the early 2010s as social media platforms became ubiquitous in family life.
Why Sharenting Matters
Sharenting is a critical concept in the digital age because it directly impacts a child's privacy, security, and future autonomy. Every piece of content shared contributes to a child's digital footprint, which can be accessed, copied, and used by others in unintended ways, including for data mining or identity theft. This practice raises ethical questions about consent, as children are often too young to agree to their personal information being made public, potentially leading to future embarrassment, online bullying, or professional repercussions.
Managing a child's digital legacy responsibly is a key challenge for modern parents. Platforms like Kinnect provide a private, secure space for families to document memories, helping parents control the narrative and protect their child's information from the risks associated with public sharenting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is an example of sharenting?
A: An example of sharenting is a parent posting a video of their toddler's potty training progress on a public Facebook profile or sharing photos from their child's birthday party that include other children without their parents' permission.
Q: What are the risks of sharenting?
A: The risks of sharenting include creating a non-consensual digital footprint, identity theft (digital kidnapping), attracting data brokers, exposing a child's location or routine to strangers, and potential future psychological harm or embarrassment for the child.
Q: How can you avoid the dangers of sharenting?
A: To avoid the dangers, parents can use private sharing platforms, avoid posting personally identifiable information (like full names, schools, or locations), review privacy settings on social media accounts, and consider the long-term implications before posting about their child.
