Sharenting Gone Wrong: 5 Examples of Parents Crossing the Line on Social Media

Rosalie Bailey

Sharenting, a term used to describe parents who frequently post about their children on social media, has become increasingly popular in recent years. While some argue that it allows for the sharing of precious family memories and connections with distant loved ones, there are potential risks that come with oversharing.

In this blog post, we'll explore examples of parents who have crossed the line and put their children's safety and well-being at risk. From oversharing personal information to publicly shaming their children, these examples highlight the importance of being mindful of how much we share about our children online.

It's crucial to remember that even if we post with innocent intentions, our online activity can have long-term consequences on our children's privacy and safety. In the following sections, we'll take a closer look at the potential dangers of sharenting and provide tips on how to share responsibly on social media.

Example 1: Oversharing About Potty Training

As a concerned observer of sharenting, it's important to bring attention to situations where parents cross the line on social media. One such example is oversharing about a child's potty training journey. While it may seem harmless or even cute to post updates about a child's bathroom habits, it can actually be embarrassing and potentially harmful for the child's future.

Imagine growing up and having to deal with the fact that your potty training progress was shared with hundreds or even thousands of people online. It can lead to feelings of shame and humiliation, and can even affect a child's relationships and opportunities later in life.

Parents need to consider the long-term implications of their social media posts, and ask themselves if it's worth potentially harming their child's future for a few likes or comments. It's important to respect a child's privacy and boundaries, even if they are too young to fully understand or consent to their information being shared online.

Sharenting should be done with caution and consideration for a child's well-being, and oversharing about potty training should definitely be avoided.

Example 2: Publicly Shaming a Child

As parents, it's understandable that we want to teach our children right from wrong and discipline them when necessary. However, publicly shaming a child on social media is never the right approach.

For instance, posting a picture of your child crying because they misbehaved or didn't listen to you can be emotionally damaging and harmful to their self-esteem. It may seem like a harmless way to get your child to behave, but it can have long-lasting effects.

Moreover, publicly shaming a child can also lead to cyberbullying. Once something is posted online, it can be shared and seen by anyone, including strangers who may not have the best intentions. A child who is humiliated on social media may become a target for bullying or other harmful behavior.

Instead of publicly shaming your child, consider talking to them about their behavior in private. Work with them to come up with a solution that doesn't involve social media. By doing so, you're teaching them how to handle difficult situations in a healthy way, while also respecting their privacy and dignity.

In short, parents should use social media responsibly and avoid crossing the line when it comes to their children's personal lives. Publicly shaming a child online is not only harmful to their well-being but also sets a bad example for others. Let's all strive to be better digital citizens and protect our children's privacy and safety.

One of the biggest pitfalls of sharenting is oversharing embarrassing photos of children. It's understandable for parents to want to capture every moment of their child's life, but there needs to be a line drawn when it comes to sharing photos online.

Every child has the right to privacy and respect, and posting pictures of them in compromising situations can lead to cyberbullying and other dangers. It's important for parents to think twice before sharing anything online that could potentially harm their child's reputation or future.

Children have a right to control their own online presence, and sharing embarrassing photos takes that control away from them. These photos can be used against them in the future, potentially harming their self-esteem and personal relationships.

Before posting anything online, parents should consider how it may affect their child in the long term. If there's any doubt about whether a photo is appropriate to share, it's best to err on the side of caution and keep it offline.

Overall, sharing embarrassing photos of children on social media is an invasion of privacy and can have serious consequences. By respecting a child's autonomy and privacy, parents can ensure their safety and well-being both online and offline.

Example 4: Oversharing Personal Information

As parents, it's natural to want to share every aspect of our child's life on social media. However, there are certain boundaries that should not be crossed, especially when it comes to personal information.

Sharing details about a child's medical conditions, family issues, or financial struggles can have serious consequences. Not only can it harm the child's privacy and future prospects, but it can also put them at risk of cyberbullying or exploitation.

As we navigate the world of sharenting, it's crucial to ask ourselves whether our posts are truly in our child's best interest. Are we sharing personal information that could potentially harm them? Are we respecting their privacy and autonomy?

It's important to remember that our children are their own individuals with their own stories to tell. As parents, it's our responsibility to protect their privacy and well-being, even on social media. Let's make sure we're doing right by our kids and setting a positive example for others to follow.

Example 5: Endangering a Child's Safety

It's easy to get excited about sharing pictures of your little one's first day of school or their latest soccer game, but it's important to be mindful of what you're posting online. Revealing your child's whereabouts or checking into specific locations can put their safety at risk.

We often forget that social media is a public platform, and not everyone who has access to our profiles has good intentions. Sharing a picture of your child at their school or tagging a location at a park you frequent can easily give strangers information about their daily routine and whereabouts.

This not only puts your child in potential physical danger but also increases the risk of cyberstalking and online harassment. It's important to consider the potential consequences of every post before sharing it on social media.

It may seem harmless at the time, but remember that once something is online, it's there forever. Even if you have tight privacy settings, there is still a risk of someone screenshotting or sharing your content with others.

Protecting your child's safety should always be a top priority, and oversharing on social media can easily compromise it. Before hitting that "post" button, take a moment to think about the potential risks and consequences. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Conclusion: Sharenting Done Right

While social media can be a fun way to share parenting moments with friends and family, it's important to remember that our children's privacy and safety should always come first. Here are some tips for sharenting responsibly:

Think twice before posting: Before posting a picture or story about your child, consider whether it's something they would want shared with the world. If in doubt, it's best to err on the side of caution and keep it private.
Check your privacy settings: Make sure your social media accounts are set to private, and only share content with people you trust.
Avoid oversharing: It's tempting to post every detail of our children's lives, but oversharing can be harmful to their privacy and well-being. Remember that it's okay to keep some moments private.
Respect your child's boundaries: As our children get older, they may not want certain aspects of their lives shared online. Respect their wishes and only share what they're comfortable with.
Teach your child about online safety: As soon as your child is old enough to understand, talk to them about the risks and dangers of social media. Teach them to set their own boundaries and to speak up if they ever feel uncomfortable with something shared online.