What is sharenting ?

Sharenting is a portmanteau word, made up of “sharing” and “parenting”. It’s used to refer to parents who share photos and videos of their kids on social media. Harmless, you might think, and the practice is becoming more and more common. However, it’s still an area which requires a level of caution.

It all starts with a Facebook post around the time of the first ultrasound, announcing the pregnancy. In fact, 30% of children already have an online presence before being born. Then come more pictures when the newborn arrives, a video of the first steps or other happy family moments. All this is generally shared on the parents’ private accounts, or even on dedicated accounts created for the children themselves. 90% of kids have an online presence by the age of 2.

It’s true that social media often helps strengthen bonds between loved ones who don’t live together, like long-distance grandparents for example.

However, the dangers of sharenting have become more apparent in the last few years. In 2016, The Atlantic published an article on the subject, raising questions about consent, the right to privacy and parent-child relationships. 

There are direct risks, such as identity fraud, when you share personal information like a child’s name and date of birth online. Posting about family days out could potentially put relatives in danger. Pictures of children undressed could even fall into the hands of pedophile networks. 

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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