Recently, I have been quite passionate about the topic of sharenting. This is a hard stance, but I’m going to say it: The way some parents are displaying their children online is demoralizing, narcissistic, and potentially dangerous.
What Is Sharenting?
Sharenting is a newer word in our online life. It describes the act of guardians oversharing their children online or on social media. These parents will post every minute of their child’s life… the ups and downs, the awards, them in swimsuits, even intimate moments like them eating, bathtime, and/or bedtime.
If you follow someone on your Facebook or TikTok account who posts photos of their crying child instead of helping them. You may have a sharent on your hands! Some parents are even playing horrible pranks on their children to get a reaction out of them and record their trauma as it unfolds.
They get the views and attention they want but at what cost? How do you protect your child from harm?
Why Do Some Parents Practice Oversharing?
Some people need and want attention online. For these types of people, the only place they feel “cool” or worthwhile is online. Children are adorable and funny and since they cannot get attention themselves online, they use their children to do so.
Money is another motivator. Some of the richest YouTubers reported are “mommy bloggers” or “family YouTubers”. These people make money from YouTube, public appearances, and sponsorships. Some accounts are innocent enough, but they are still displaying their children. Children are not content, they are living, breathing, innocent beings who deserve privacy.
Parents sometimes feel it necessary to document their children and family’s life but it got really out of control and they allowed themselves to get carried away. These parents typically don’t intend to hurt their children, but they are not aware of the damage sharenting can cause.
Why Is Sharenting Dangerous?
The world is online…seriously most of the population of the entire world is on their phones, their computers, and social media. When you sharent, your child is at risk.
For example, there was a trend going around last month on TikTok. A parent has their babysitting on their lap and uses the baby’s foot as a phone. It was honestly an adorable video, but online, nothing is safe. The video that started the trend had over 10,000 saves!
People in the comments began to point out the enormous amount of people who saved the video. Who was saving this video and why? Unfortunately, we can probably partially guess the answer…pedophiles.
When comments of concern began to take over the comment section, some defensive people stepped in, saying some people probably saved it because it was a cute video. While this is probably true, all it takes is one predator for this video to end up AI-manipulated and on the dark web.
How does AI play into this? Criminals are using AI to produce naked photos of children from photos and videos of clothes. They then (and this is gross, I am sorry) use AI to manipulate the subject into compromising positions. Teenagers have found themselves victims to this terrible trend, which is why education around social media use is so important.
The Psychological Cost of Oversharing Your Child
Children are not content for your social media pages. Children are people, and they deserve privacy, too. While you may think the more you post your children, the more people will think you love them, it’s quite the opposite. Sharenting makes a parent look irresponsible and attention-seeking.
So how does it impact your child? People talk, and if you post an embarrassing video or photo of your child, the kids at their school could find out about it. As a result, the child finds themselves ostracized at school.
Sharing your child too much online is like assigning them an identity before they have a chance to do that themselves. The people who follow you online will have preconceived notions about how they expect your child to be. That’s unfair. Would you want someone to assign you an identity before you have a chance to create one for yourself?
Some children may even feel they need to be “on” like a child star to make you love them. There is a lot of pressure on children who are put on full display for the world. They will wonder, if this video doesn’t go viral again, will mommy still love me?
Are You a Sharent?
You may be wondering if you are a “sharent” or participating in some mild sharenting. This is a good concern to have, because this means you care about the dangers surrounding this online behavior.
You may be a sharent if…
- You are posting photos and videos of your child constantly
- You are posting lots of videos and photos of your children in intimate moments, like bedtime or eating (a child eating is also a common fetish of pedophiles, sadly)
- People around you have shared concerns about what you are posting and/or how often you are posting your child on social media
- You have posted videos or photos of your child in states of extreme emotions or uncomfortable situations
- You have noticed the likes, saves, shares, and comments on your photos are “blowing up”
- There are a lot of saves on your TikTok videos that include your child
- Strangers are following you or sending friend requests to your account
Think about how your child would feel if they “creep” your socials when they are grown up. Would they feel embarrassed or proud?
Sharing Is Not Always Caring
Sharenting is being weaponized by sick people to take possession of our personal images. But by protecting yourself, your child, and your family, you can take control. More about that in our next article!
Be aware, and stay safe!
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