Raising children in the era of smartphones and constant connectivity presents a unique set of challenges for modern parents. The urge to document and share every precious milestone on social media platforms is strong, often driven by love and pride. However, this growing habit, now termed 'sharenting', is raising significant red flags among child psychologists and digital safety experts across India.
What Exactly Is 'Sharenting'?
The term 'sharenting' is a blend of 'share' and 'parenting'. It describes the trend where parents excessively post details, photos, and videos of their children's lives on social media. For many, these platforms act as a digital diary, a convenient way to store memories from ultrasound scans to first days at school. Yet, this practice often leads to the unintentional sharing of sensitive personal information that can be accessed by anyone, including those with malicious intent.
The Safety Risks You Cannot Ignore
While occasional sharing might seem harmless, experts emphasize that oversharing a child's daily routine, location, school details, or extracurricular activities can invite chaos and danger. In today's AI-driven world, a child's image and data can be misused for identity theft, digital bullying, or to attract unwanted attention. Once content is posted online, it becomes nearly impossible to erase completely from the digital space, meaning the potential for damage is permanent.
Many aware parents, including several celebrities, have adopted precautions like maintaining complete privacy for their children or blurring their faces in posted pictures. This mindfulness is crucial in safeguarding a child's right to privacy and their future digital identity.
Finding a Healthier Balance Online
The key is not to stop sharing entirely but to cultivate a more conscious and balanced approach. Parents are advised to be extremely selective about what they post, avoiding details that reveal a child's whereabouts or personal identifiers. The core principle is to always keep the child's best interest and future safety in mind.
Experts suggest that parents should consider waiting until their children are old enough to understand and consent to having their lives displayed on public platforms. Until then, a pause and a rethink before every post can be the most significant act of protective parenting in the digital age.
