If you are a new mom like me, you may be wondering how to navigate the vast world of social media when it comes to your kids. I am super proud of my daughter and love sharing all of her “firsts” with friends and family, but I know it’s important to understand the consequences of that sharing.
What is ‘sharenting’?
The Huffington Post published an article about what they call ‘sharenting.’ it’s a word I have never heard before. HuffPo explains the term is used for parents that share updates and pictures of their children on social media. They have tips to keep your kids as safe as possible (are we ever 100% safe with the web?) I have summarized them below.
First I think it’s important to know if you are a sharent (I have no idea if that is the other way to use this word, but let’s try it!) You are not alone. 
An article in The Guardian references a study that found “63% of mums use Facebook; of these, 97% said they post pictures of their child; 89% post status updates about them, and 46% post videos.” That’s a lot of baby pics out there! The main thing The Guardian says you need to worry about is keeping your child’s identity safe. This means not letting their pictures get taken or their personal information. I’m sure many of you did not think about your newborn’s identity being stolen when you posted that first picture with their full name and birthdate(Guilty!).
Ready to learn how to make a change?
The Huff Post article suggest you focus on these three things:
- Permission – Is your child old enough to grant consent, if so, maybe it’s time for you to ask. Does your friend mind you using their kid in a post? Here is a great study on children wanting a say in what their parents post.
- Privacy– Check your settings, use platforms that allow you to be private
- Pause – Think before you post! Make sure even friends can’t see personal information like your location. Remember some employers check social media before hiring. How will this affect your child’s future?
P.S. If you are a “Sharent” you don’t need to panic, just follow the tips above and maybe read this NPR article, it made me feel better. It states “most children will likely never experience problems related to what their parents share, but a tension still exists between parents’ rights to share their experiences and their children’s rights to privacy.”