Sharent: When Parenting Becomes Public Posting

singluar Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Sharent: When Parenting Becomes Public Posting

In the digital age, parenting is often lived out not just in the home, but also on social media. The phenomenon known as “sharenting”—a blend of “sharing” + “parenting”—refers to parents posting frequent photos, stories, updates, and details about their children online. What starts as proud moments or milestones shared with loved ones can sometimes cross into territory that raises privacy, consent, and safety issues.

Sharenting isn’t new, but it has exploded in scale and visibility with the advent of Instagram, TikTok, YouTube family vlogs, and the culture of documenting everyday life. Many parents feel it’s natural and harmless; however, beneath its benign surface lie serious long-term implications—for children, parent‑child relationships, and digital identity.

In this article, we’ll explore:

What counts as sharenting
The benefits, motivations, and appeal
Risks and consequences
Ethical and emotional considerations
Strategies for responsible sharing

What Counts as Sharenting?

Sharenting is broader than simply posting a baby photo. It includes:

Sharing pictures or videos: milestone moments (first steps, birthdays), everyday life (playtime, school, outings), or even embarrassing moments
Narratives: telling stories about children’s mistakes, tantrums, health issues, behavior struggles
Personal data: names, birthdates, school names, locations, or schedules
Live streaming or family vlogging: documenting the family’s daily life where the child becomes part of the “content”
Monetized content: when parents or influencers use children’s images/videos as part of a revenue model

Even innocuous posts—“My kid scored well in exam #2!”—can contribute to a digital footprint. The line between “sharing” and “oversharing” is often subtle.

Why Do Parents Sharent?

Before judging sharenting as irresponsible, it’s helpful to see why so many parents do it:

Pride and joy
Parents naturally want to celebrate their children’s growth and achievements with family, friends, and their community.
Social connection and validation
Likes, comments, and well‑wishes provide affirmation and make parents feel connected to others in their network.
Documenting memories
For many, social media acts as a digital scrapbook. In years to come, these posts serve as memory archives.
Support, advice, community
Sharing challenges (teething, behavioral issues) can invite advice or encouragement from fellow parents.
Influencer culture and monetization
Some parents become content creators or family vloggers. Children’s lives become part of a brand or channel.
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
When others share, some parents may feel pressure to also document, lest they “miss” capturing moments.

While these motivations are often well‑intentioned, they don’t nullify the need for caution.

Risks & Consequences of Sharenting

1. Privacy & Loss of Control

Once you post something online, you lose near-total control. Screenshots, re-shares, data archiving—even when you delete a post, it may persist elsewhere. A child’s entire digital footprint could be shaped by their early years—without their consent.

2. Identity Theft & “Digital Kidnapping”

Personal details (birthdates, full names, addresses, school) can be used for fraud or identity theft. Some malicious actors repurpose children’s images, claiming them as their own (a phenomenon called “digital kidnapping”).

3. Cyberbullying, Harassment & Exposure to Strangers

The more publicly visible a child is, the greater the risk of negative comments, harassment, or unwanted attention. In some cases, strangers may reach out via comments or direct messages. On platforms like TikTok, children in revealing clothing attract more appearance-based comments.

4. Emotional Impact, Consent & Autonomy

As children grow older, they may resent content posted without their permission. They may feel a lack of privacy or control over their own story. Some teenagers confront parents about “too many posts.”

5. Impact on Future Opportunities

Embarrassing posts or a digital trail can affect how children are perceived by peers, universities, or future employers. Things you post as a cute milestone might later feel invasive.

6. Reinforcing Gender Bias / Social Norms

Interestingly, research shows parents mention sons more often than daughters in sharenting posts—reflecting deeper societal biases. Also, posts often portray an “ideal child” image, creating pressure and unrealistic expectations.

7. Regulatory Gaps & Legal Issues

Currently many countries lack regulations specifically protecting children from sharenting. The legal status of consent for minors in online sharing remains murky in many jurisdictions. Some local bodies (e.g. Assam Police in India) have warned parents against public sharing of children’s images.

In summary: sharenting, when done irresponsibly, can lead to real, long-lasting harms. The key is not to demonize sharing, but to approach it mindfully.

Ethical & Emotional Dimensions to Consider

Consent: Children, even young ones, have a right to some privacy. They can’t fully consent when they’re young—but as they grow, their voice matters.
Treating children as ends, not means: If posting is primarily for parental validation or monetization, children may feel used.
Empathy & dignity: Would your child feel embarrassed by this post later? Would they want it shared now?
Balancing openness and boundaries: A healthy digital life involves respecting personal boundaries, even when sharing parts of life.
Parent-Child trust: Overexposure can erode trust if kids feel powerless over their image.

Guidelines for Responsible Sharenting

How can one strike a balance—sharing joy, connecting with others—without exposing a child unduly? Here are practical tips:

Pause before posting
Ask: Why am I sharing this? Who will see it? Could it embarrass the child later? If in doubt, skip it.
Limit identifiable details
Avoid posting full names, birthdates, school names, addresses, or daily schedules. Use general descriptions instead.
Control your audience
Use privacy settings—restrict posts to “friends,” “close family,” or custom lists instead of public.
Review who follows you periodically.
Delay or aggregate
Post events or photos after the moment, not in real time, so you reduce safety risk. Or share periodic summaries instead of constant updates.
Use partial or non‑identifying images
Show silhouettes, backs, cropped images, or non-facial shots.
Seek the child’s consent (as they grow older)
Let your child have agency in choosing which images/stories to share about them.
Avoid monetizing children’s content (or tread carefully)
If sharing is part of a content business, ensure the child's interests and privacy take priority over follower metrics.
Practice “digital hygiene”
Regularly delete or archive older posts. Audit your content to ensure nothing overly personal remains online.
Educate children about digital presence
Teach them about privacy, online safety, and the implications of sharing.
Model mindful behavior
Be thoughtful in what you share for your own profile too—children emulate adults.

Conclusion: Share with Care

Sharenting is a double-edged sword. On one side, it allows parents to celebrate milestones, connect with family and friends, and create digital memories. On the other, it can unintentionally expose children to risks, invade privacy, and strain relationships.

In the end, there’s no one-size-fits-all rule. But the guiding principles should be respect, responsibility, and restraint. Treat your child’s early years as precious—but not as content to be mined. Let them gradually step into the narrative of their own lives, with agency, dignity, and privacy intact.