The super cute first day of school photo snapped in front of your child’s elementary school. A seemingly innocent bathtub shot during bubble fun. A Happy Birthday post. Or, a photo of your toddler in the middle of a temper tantrum. No harm, right? Maybe not.
A study by security company AVG discovered that, by the age of 2, 92% of U.S. children already have some type of online presence.
Sharenting, or sharing a child’s information on social media, is a way many parents seek to feel connected to others during the ups and downs of raising children. Over-sharenting becomes an issue when a lack of awareness may have damaging results. A parent might unknowingly disclose the child’s frequent playdate location, post inappropriate photos that may land in the wrong hands, offer up information that could lead to identity theft, or share compromising photos of the child that may re-emerge when he or she is older.
The digital footprint cannot be erased. What should we know?
Photos give information: A child posing sweetly in front of her school’s building may communicate more than we realize. In that innocent post, a parent has informed the audience where the child attends school and, more than likely, what grade. Parents may believe they have a select list of followers on their social media, but that may not be enough. Statistics from the non-profit Darkness to Light indicate that 90% of sexual abuse victims know their abuser. So whether the information finds its way to a stranger or stays within a friend list, being vigilant with disclosing specifics is crucial.
Photos could get into the wrong hands: Bathtime is usually when kids are having fun, laughing, and being silly. I, myself, have wanted to take pictures of my son’s cute, messy hair or big smiles in the tub. However, in her article in U.S. News and World Report, Kate Land, MD, implores us to:
Never post pictures of children of any age in any state of undress, even a baby in a bath tub. Such pictures can be copied and reposted on sites used by pedophiles.
Andrea Richey, MSW, LSW, a social worker at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, states that sex offenders, “will constantly look for images online, and it’s very easy to save images that belong to others.” Further strengthening this point, GuardChild reports that “law enforcement officials estimate that more than 50,000 sexual predators are online at any given moment.”
Photos may lead to identify theft: It might be a stretch, but is possible. Adrienne Lafrance reported in her article The Perils of ‘Sharenting’ that posting birthday and information with a child’s name “puts kids at risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping – when someone lifts images of another person’s kids and portrays them as their own.” Social worker Andrea Richey recommends an alternative way to honor a birthday and suggests writing, “We had a great week celebrating,” rather than being specific about the date.
Photos can be embarrassing: Yeah, kids do funny things. A toddler with dirty underwear on his head, or saying something ridiculous. The awkward, self-conscious years as a teen. But how will the child feel as a young adult when he realizes the many unpolished moments of his life have been disseminated to a wider audience? If given a choice, perhaps the child would not have allowed them to become public.
A study by Stacey B. Sternberg titled Sharenting: Children’s Privacy in the Age of Social Media discovered “parents act as both gatekeepers of their children’s personal information and as narrators of their children’s personal stories.” Consequently, it’s safe to assume most people would not appreciate being featured on social media after doing something shameful. Specifically, if it is part of their permanent digital record.
What should we do?
It’s healthy to share photos, connect with family, and show pride in our children. But before posting, take pause, check privacy settings, and be diligent when disclosing sensitive information. If your child is old enough, make sure to communicate what you would like to put online and ask if she is comfortable. Veto power is in her hands. What might get a lot of clicks on your page, could be placing your child in harm’s way, so think twice.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Learn more at these sites:
Excellent read Carrie! So many good things to be aware of! Thanks for taking the time to write such an informative post!
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