The Dangers of Oversharing Your Children’s Lives on Social Media: 2 Key Risks

Scientists have been examining the impact of social media on our society, particularly its effects on vulnerable children and adolescents. A critical review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2022 consolidated findings from over 68 studies on social media use in children and adolescents, revealing a range of risks. Here are some notable issues associated with unregulated social media use during childhood and adolescence:

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

Clearly, social media can have negative consequences for children, especially if they cannot use it responsibly. But what happens when the decision to be on social media is not theirs? Could “sharenting,” the act of parents sharing excessive personal information about their children online, lead to similar negative effects? And how does this practice impact our children’s privacy and identity?

Unfortunately, the news is not promising on both the identity and mental health fronts.

According to a 2018 report by Barclays, sharenting by millennial parents could result in identity fraud that costs nearly $900 million annually by 2030. Parents who share their children’s lives online often fall into a false sense of security, possibly due to the widespread use of social media.

This false sense of security, combined with the desire to showcase their children, can unknowingly expose various crucial details about their children, which can be exploited by fraudsters to steal their identities. Some seemingly innocent details include:

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

Aside from the risks of identity theft, sharenting also has two negative mental health consequences for children.

#1. Sharenting can strain the parent-child relationship

A 2019 study published in the journal Children and Youth Services Review found that adolescents largely disapprove of sharenting, especially when they perceive the parental motives behind it as attempts to manage impressions. The most common reaction among adolescents towards sharenting was that it is “embarrassing and useless,” except when the motive was information archiving.

Past research has emphasized the significance of a person’s relationship with their parents (and parenting style) in terms of overall well-being. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that children are not exploited and have a say in how they are represented online.

Parents should 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 their children’s well-being and privacy. Open and honest communication about online sharing, obtaining consent, and respecting children’s boundaries can foster healthier digital practices and maintain a positive parent-child relationship.

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

Social comparison is a well-known consequence of adolescent social media use. For instance, a study published in The Journal of Psychology in 2022 found that adolescents who intensively use Instagram tend to engage in unhealthy comparisons with their peers, which can influence their vulnerability to negative emotions.

With sharenting, even though children may not directly participate in scripting and strategizing their social media presence, the effects of social comparison can still manifest. This can occur in several ways:

• Parents may exert excessive pressure on their children in pursuit of more likes or shares.
• Children may internalize the pressure to perform and constantly seek validation through social media metrics, negatively impacting their self-esteem and self-worth.
• Comparisons with the lives of other sharented children can lead to feelings of inadequacy and a distorted sense of self, as children perceive themselves as falling short compared to their online peers.

Conclusion

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

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