In today’s digital age, social media feeds are often filled with proud parents sharing pictures and videos of their children, capturing milestones, adorable moments, and everyday kid antics. From first steps to cute outfits, these posts portray the joy and pride parents feel. Yet, behind this seemingly innocent sharing lies a complex and growing phenomenon known as “sharenting,” which raises important questions about privacy, consent, and safety for children in the digital world.
Sharenting, a blend of “sharing” and “parenting,” refers to parents posting content related to their children online. A 2024 study published in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics found that approximately 75% of parents engage in this practice. Typical examples include birth announcements, school photos, report cards, and videos of children playing or learning new skills. While these posts often stem from love and pride, experts warn that sharenting can have unintended negative consequences for both children and their families.
Dr. Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, explains that many parents share these moments to connect with others, seek advice, or simply celebrate their child’s achievements. This impulse is understandable—after all, sharing photos at home, like hanging pictures on walls, has long been a part of family life. In fact, a 2018 UK Children’s Commissioner report revealed that parents post an average of 71 photos and 29 videos of their children each year. By the time a child reaches high school, there could be around 1,000 photos and 400 videos online. Moreover, a 2023 report from the European Pediatric Association found that by age two, about 92% of toddlers in the U.S. already have an online presence, often because their parents have shared images and information about them.
Despite the well-meaning intentions, sharenting carries significant privacy risks. Leah Plunkett, a Harvard Law School lecturer and author of the book *Sharenthood: Why We Should Think Before We Talk about Our Kids Online*, emphasizes how much personal data can be unwittingly revealed. Through captions and geo-tags, parents might share their child’s full name, birthdate, home location, and daily habits. Even seemingly harmless details, such as what foods a child prefers, can contribute to a detailed digital profile. Plunkett notes that once uploaded, this information is no longer under the parent’s control and can be accessed by a vast and unknown audience.
The dangers of sharenting are evolving rapidly, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Deepfakes—realistic but fabricated images, videos, or audio created using AI—pose a new and alarming threat. According to Reality Defender, a company specializing in AI detection, some deepfake tools are easily accessible and can produce convincing fakes in as little as 30 seconds. This technology can be exploited to create harmful content involving children, including fake nude images or videos used for coercion or sextortion.
Nathalie Maréchal, co-director of the Privacy and Data Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology, underscores the distressing reality that perpetrators use images of children found online to create abusive materials. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children highlights how generative AI can facilitate the creation of synthetic media to exploit children, amplifying risks of grooming, cyberbullying, and sexual abuse. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) further explains the severe emotional trauma such abuse can cause, including feelings of violation, shame, bullying, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Victims may hesitate or be unable to seek help due to fear and disbelief.
Beyond AI-related threats, sharenting can also cause psychological harm. Dr. Albers notes that teenagers often experience embarrassment or distress over things their parents have posted, which can lead to bullying or strained family relationships. Additionally, parents’ online portrayals can create pressure for children to live up to certain images or expectations, potentially damaging their self-esteem.
Identity theft is another serious risk linked to sharenting. According to PNC Bank, children’s personal information posted online—such as full names, birthdates, or Social Security numbers—can be stolen and used fraudulently. Criminals might either assume the child’s identity outright or fabricate new identities combining real and false information. This can result in long-term financial damage, including credit problems that affect a child’s ability to rent apartments, get jobs, or secure student loans later in life.
Given these risks,