The practice of sharenting – parents sharing content about their children online – has become so common that the average child appears in 1,500 online posts before age 5 (Childwise Report, 2023). But as sharenting exploiting kids becomes a growing concern, psychologists and legal experts warn we may be creating the first generation with no digital privacy from birth. This comprehensive examination explores both sides of the sharenting debate, analyzes current research, and provides actionable guidelines for ethical sharing.
We’ll explore how sharenting exploiting kids impacts childhood development, examine legal protections (or lack thereof), and provide concrete solutions for parents who want to share mindfully. With cases of digital kidnapping and identity theft rising among children, understanding the risks of oversharing has never been more urgent.
The Psychology Behind Sharenting Exploiting Kids
Developmental psychologists identify three primary motivations driving sharenting behavior:
1. The Validation Cycle
Harvard researchers found that parental posts about children receive 30% more engagement than other content (Social Media Studies Journal, 2023). This positive reinforcement creates a dopamine-driven feedback loop where parents increasingly share to maintain social approval.
2. Curated Childhood Phenomenon
Many parents view their social profiles as digital scrapbooks, carefully crafting narratives about their children’s lives. This curation often prioritizes shareability over authenticity, with 68% of parents admitting to staging photos specifically for social media (Parenting in the Digital Age Survey, 2023).
3. The “Missing Village” Effect
As modern families become more geographically dispersed, sharenting often fills the void left by absent extended family. 54% of parents report sharing primarily to keep relatives updated (Pew Research, 2023), though only 12% verify whether those relatives actually want this content.
Documented Harms of Sharenting Exploiting Kids
Digital Identity Theft Risks
Children’s identities are stolen 35 times more often than adults (Javelin Strategy, 2023), with oversharing parents providing all necessary information. Common vulnerabilities include:
- Full names and birthdates in captions
- Geotagged school locations
- Photos of documents like birth certificates or passports
Identity thieves can use this information to open credit lines that may go undetected for years.
Emotional and Social Consequences
Clinical studies reveal children experience specific harms from sharenting:
- Embarrassment (72% of teens report feeling embarrassed by parental posts)
- Bullying (47% of middle schoolers report being teased about shared content)
- Distorted self-image from curated online personas
The American Academy of Pediatrics now includes “digital dignity” in its wellbeing guidelines.
Read Also: How Tech-Savvy Dads Are Redefining Fatherhood
Legal Landscape: Who Protects Children?
Current laws provide minimal protection against sharenting exploiting kids:
United States Protections
No federal laws regulate sharenting. Some states have proposed legislation:
- Illinois’ “Right to Childhood Privacy Act” (pending)
- California’s “Child Content Creator Bill” for monetized accounts
France remains the only country where children can sue parents for privacy violations.
Platform Policies
Most social platforms have no specific sharenting policies. Notable exceptions:
- YouTube requires COPPA compliance for minor-focused content
- TikTok allows removal of posts featuring minors upon request
Meta faces ongoing lawsuits regarding child exploitation in family vlogging content.
Ethical Framework for Mindful Sharenting
The “Three Gates” Test
Before sharing, ask:
- Would my child consent to this if they understood?
- Could this content embarrass or harm them in 10 years?
- Is this share for their benefit or mine?
Technical Safeguards
When sharing is necessary:
- Use encrypted family sharing apps instead of public platforms
- Disable geotagging and facial recognition
- Set Google Alerts for your child’s name
Case Studies: When Sharenting Goes Wrong
The Digital Kidnapping Epidemic
FBI reports show a 600% increase in “digital kidnapping” cases since 2018, where strangers:
- Save and repost children’s photos as their own
- Create fake profiles using stolen images
- Generate AI content featuring appropriated likenesses
Monetized Childhoods
Family vlogging channels present particular ethical concerns:
- Children in family channels work 40+ hour weeks with no labor protections
- Earnings belong to parents until child turns 18
- Most states don’t require trust accounts for child performers
Alternative Approaches to Digital Memory Keeping
Private Digital Archives
Secure alternatives to public sharing:
- Encrypted cloud storage with family-only access
- Physical photo albums and memory boxes
- Private family social networks like Notion or Kajabi
Child-Led Sharing
As children age, involve them in decisions:
- Create shared family content guidelines
- Establish veto power over posts
- Review and delete old content together annually
For more insights on parenting in the digital age, check out these resources: Common Sense Media, Parenting.com, and Verywell Family.
Finding Balance in the Age of Oversharing
The question of whether sharenting exploiting kids has crossed ethical lines requires nuanced consideration. While sharing childhood moments brings joy and connection, it must be balanced against a child’s right to privacy and autonomy. As technology evolves faster than legislation, parents bear primary responsibility for protecting their children’s digital footprints.
By implementing mindful sharing practices, using secure alternatives for memory keeping, and regularly evaluating our motivations, we can preserve childhood moments without compromising children’s future privacy. The most ethical approach may be sharing less now so our children can choose what to share later.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sharenting
At what age should parents stop sharing about their children?
Experts recommend beginning to phase out sharing when children develop digital literacy (around age 7-8) and stopping completely by adolescence unless the child gives explicit consent. Even young children deserve basic privacy protections.
Can deleted posts still pose risks?
Yes. Content persists through screenshots, archives, and data brokers. The Wayback Machine has archived over 800 billion web pages, including deleted social media posts. Assume anything shared digitally is permanent.
How can I remove existing content about my child?
Start by auditing your profiles and deleting unnecessary posts. For content shared by others, submit removal requests to platforms. Services like DeleteMe can help remove information from data broker sites. Going forward, establish clear sharing boundaries with family.
Are some types of sharing more problematic than others?
Content showing children in vulnerable states (bath time, tantrums, medical situations) carries highest risk. Also avoid sharing school names, routines, or locations. Even seemingly innocent posts can be misused when aggregated over time.
How do European privacy laws affect American sharenting?
GDPR gives EU citizens “right to be forgotten” protections that theoretically extend to children’s data worldwide. While enforcement is challenging, European parents face stricter regulations about sharing children’s images and data compared to US parents.
