When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Social media users violatechildren’s privacyoften in good faith, without understanding the possible implications for their well-being.
Everything for a digital identity they never asked for.
What is sharenting?
New parents share personal details to combat loneliness.
Teachers might upload children’s pictures to celebrate their work.
However, digital child labor is only one facet of the problem.
Even worse, having their life broadcasted on the internet does not come without consequences.
A privacy problem
Online privacy is a major concern nowadays.
The use of security software like thebest VPN servicesis on the rise.
More parents use parental controls when their kids use a digital gear.
You’ve no doubt heard ofidentity theft, and you might even have been affected by it yourself.
And, unfortunately, kids are increasingly becoming a target.
Digital kidnappingrefers to the theft of photos of a minor published online posing as himself or his parents.
In some cases, they can use their fake digital identity to contact other children.
Plunkett explains that this is because a kid is like a “clean slate with no credit history.”
Adults often share highly confidential information within their happy-moment posts, too.
Other users can do anything they want with ita fertile ground for child sexual abuse.
The advent of easy-to-useAI-powered toolsis making it even easier to transform an innocent image into over-sexualized deepfake content.
Sharenting can also have a psychological impact on kids as they grow up.
“Each of us decides what to share and how to represent ourselves on social media.
Kids are increasingly born “digitally even before natural birth.”
“They feel caged in a representation that they did not choose.”
How to sharent safely
Legislators are now looking at how to regulate the issue.
However, it’s arguably impossible toreallyerase something from the internet.
For some people giving up on sharenting might be not a possibility either.
According to Plunkett, this practice have also positive outcomes such as building supportive connections and educational advantages.
What we allcando is broadcast a child’s image in a more conscious way.
Posting about your kids on social media?
@UFlaws @sgsteinberg, a world expert on sharenting, offers these tips for their safety and wellbeing.
She recommends that parents refrain from posting nudity, too, no matter how innocent the pictures could look.
She believes that kids should also be involved in the decisions whenever possible.
Steinberg also suggests reviewing the privacy configs of old posts to confirm only friends can see them.
Most importantly, perhaps, don’t rush on your smartphone to post right after the snap.
