But <\/span>sharenting<\/b>, the term for continually posting images, videos and information about your children on the internet, usually without their permission, can be dangerous. By 2030, it is anticipated <\/span>sharenting will be the cause of nearly two-thirds of identity-fraud cases affecting today\u2019s children<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s hard for the parents in my practice to hear, especially millennial moms and dads who <\/span>share nearly 300 photos online every year<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 The tricky part is that parents\u2019 intentions are good. They are proud of their children and want to help relatives and friends in other countries see parts of their lives. But I believe <\/span>there is no 100% safe way to share your child\u2019s life on social media<\/b>, and the risks outweigh the benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Sharenting runs multiple risks, some of which might seem far away in the future to parents, but which are very real nonetheless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some risks of sharing our children online include:<\/span><\/p>\n Based on the many risks related to sharenting, I recommend parents avoid sharing photos, videos and information of young children altogether and to wait until their children have turned <\/span>at least 13<\/b> \u2013 the legal age to have a social media account. And then, ONLY with their child\u2019s consent. I understand this approach may sound too extreme for many parents or self-proclaimed \u201csharents\u201d, so here are my tips on how to share online more safely:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Do it with care<\/b><\/p>\n If you feel you must share, \u201c<\/span>share with care<\/b><\/a>.\u201d Always ask your child for their permission and consider both the short term and long term consequences of your post. <\/span>Think twice about how what you share online might affect your child\u2019s self-esteem and career in the future.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Avoid nudity and undress<\/b><\/p>\n Never post photos in which the minor appears naked, including those of newborns, bath time, on the beach etc. Likewise, I also do not recommend uploading a photo of the minor with little clothing. Leah Plunkett, author of <\/span>Sharenthood: Why we should think before we talk about our kids online<\/span><\/i><\/a>, has an excellent rule of thumb,<\/span> \u201c<\/b>don\u2019t post pictures in any state of undress<\/b><\/a>.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n Understand social networks<\/b><\/p>\n Review the privacy policies of social networks you use regularly and limit access to a small and trusted environment (<\/span>friends only<\/b>, <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> friends of friends). While there, revisit your friend list. How many of those people are really your friends? Consider reviewing and pruning the list, as it\u2019s very easy for someone who is not really a friend to take a screenshot of a photo or post and repost it or send it to others in a way you don\u2019t want.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Get notified<\/b><\/p>\n Set up a<\/span> Google alert<\/b> for your child\u2019s name so you are notified if (and likely when) your child\u2019s name appears online.<\/span><\/p>\n Turn off location sharing<\/b><\/p>\n Never share your child\u2019s location. Location and geolocation functions can be disabled when sharing images. Try not to give any clues to the places you visit frequently.<\/span><\/p>\n Never share your child\u2019s full name<\/b><\/p>\n Don\u2019t share your child\u2019s name, and avoid sharing both your whole life and theirs: this creates a <\/span>digital biography<\/b>, and you don\u2019t know how it might be used in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n Keep photos safe<\/b><\/p>\n Don\u2019t use social media as your photo album, download your photos to your own server space, or even better, your own hard drive.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/01\/11114459\/2023-12-Blog_WhatisSharentingInside-Image.png” title_text=”Sharenting safety” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”55%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n 1. The first thing I would advise parents to do is to <\/span>review the privacy settings<\/b> on all their social networks, blogs, etc., and in all the sites where you share or have shared information before. Set all publications, photos, albums, to <\/span>private<\/b>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 2. For tweens and teens, sit down with them and look at the photos together. Ask them if there are any photos they would like taken down. <\/span>Remove any posts that they want removed immediately. <\/b>For younger children, I recommend deleting everything. But if that is not realistic, take the time to review your posts.<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Remove posts that might be compromising<\/b>, like nude photos or something that seemed funny at the time but on second thought might be embarrassing for your child.<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Remove any posts that include the child\u2019s name or location<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Feeling a bit addicted to posting online? You\u2019re not alone. Most social media sites are designed to be addictive. Each thumbs up, heart and comment you get sends a dopamine rush to the brain and <\/span>creates a craving<\/span><\/a>. Like any addiction I have seen, it can be very difficult to break out of a habit without a total disconnect. Try moving social apps off your home screen. If that doesn\u2019t work, delete them. If that doesn\u2019t work, try a tool like <\/span>Qustodio: <\/b>the same app you might already be using to block access for your kids – but for yourself!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As our kids grow up in a very digital world, with online consequences that are not entirely clear, parents need to up their digital savvy. The innocent days of the internet are over. What goes on the internet stays on the internet and can be used against you and your children.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n As parents and guardians, we should be the ones setting an example for our children. By looking after our own online safety and theirs, we will be helping them to care for it themselves when they grow up. Talk to your children about online safety and digital citizenship, teach them to <\/span>think twice before they post<\/b>, and above all: make sure you do too.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Posting photos of your children on the internet is hard to resist. I remember how wonderful and special every little gesture my baby made felt and how I desperately wanted to capture those moments and share them with, well, everyone! Even now that my children are older, I still struggle with trying to resist the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":55986,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Posting photos of your children on the internet is hard to resist. I remember very well how wonderful and special every little gesture my baby made and how I desperately wanted to capture those moments and share them with, well, everyone. Even now that my children are older, I still struggle with trying to resist the gratification I could get out of sharing their lives on social media. <\/p> But sharenting<\/strong>, or oversharenting, the term for continually posting images, videos and information about your children on the internet, usually without their permission, is dangerous. For example, by 2030, sharenting will be the cause of nearly two-thirds of identity-fraud cases affecting today\u2019s children<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> That\u2019s hard for the parents in my practice to hear, especially millennial moms and dads who are sharing nearly 300 photos online every year<\/a>.\u00a0 The tricky part is that parents\u2019 intentions are good. They are proud of their children. And, they want to help relatives and friends in other countries stay a part of their lives. But I insist there is no 100% safe way to share your child\u2019s life on social media<\/strong>, and the risks outweigh the benefits.<\/p><\/div> Based on the many risks related to sharenting, I recommend parents avoid sharing photos, videos and information of young children altogether and to wait until their children have turned at least 13<\/strong> \u2013 the legal age to have a social media account. And then, ONLY with their child\u2019s consent. I understand this approach may sound too extreme for many parents or self-proclaimed \u2018sharents\u2019, so here are my tips on how to share online more safely:<\/p><\/div> Feeling a bit addicted to posting online? You\u2019re not alone. Most social media sites are designed to be addictive. Each thumbs up, heart and comment you get sends a dopamine rush to the brain and creates a craving. Like any addiction I have seen \u2013 I worked with drug addicts for a decade \u2013 it can be very difficult to break out of a habit without a total disconnect. Try moving social apps off your home screen. If that doesn\u2019t work, delete them. If that doesn\u2019t work, try an app like Qustodio<\/a>,<\/strong> the same app you might already be using to block apps for your kids, but for yourself!<\/p><\/div> As our kids grow up in a very digital world, with online consequences that are not entirely clear, parents need to up their digital savvy. The innocent days of the internet are over. What goes on the internet stays on the internet and can be used against you and your children. Remember that parenting is more important than sharenting, and it is still your job to set an example for your children. If you don\u2019t care for their online safety and reputation, how will they know to care for it for themselves when they grow up? Please talk to your children about online safety and digital citizenship. Teach your children to think twice before they post<\/strong>, and make sure you do too.<\/p><\/div>What are the risks of sharenting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
How to share pictures of your child online more safely<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What should you do if you have already shared your child\u2019s information online?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to stop sharenting<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Parenting is more important than sharenting<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Identity theft, bullying, embarrassment, future discrimination and the violation of privacy. These are the risks parents need to know about before sharing information about their child on social media. <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/www.qustodio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/b7aee7f0-d871-401a-bc65-87f7b818a032_ADR-IG-quote21_EN.jpg\")
\r\n<\/div>Risks of Sharenting<\/strong><\/h3>
How to share social posts online more safely<\/strong><\/h3>
What should you do if you have already shared your child\u2019s info online?<\/strong><\/h3>
\r\n<\/li>
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\r\n> Remove posts that might be compromising<\/strong>, like nude photos or something that seemed funny at the time but on second thought might be embarrassing for your child.\u00a0
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\r\n> Remove any posts that include the child\u2019s name or location<\/strong>.
\r\n<\/li><\/ol><\/div>How to stop sharenting<\/strong><\/h3>
Parenting is more important than sharenting<\/strong><\/h3>
Footnotes<\/strong><\/h3>
More online safety guides and digital parenting articles <\/strong><\/h3>
Where to get Qustodio<\/strong><\/h3>