TURNING KIDS INTO CONTENT

Sharenting parents oversharing content about their children online-can have lasting implications on a child's life

- HARMEET SINGH AND SALIK KHAN

A mid the incessant sharing and virtual documentation of our existence, a perilous trend has emerged. A seemingly innocuous act, akin to leaving a door ajar, actually exposes the vulnerability of young lives to prying eyes and potential dangers lurking in the virtual shadows. It is like unwittingly handing over the keys to a child’s bedroom to a stranger on the internet.

In an age dominated by social media, the practice of ‘sharenting’ has become ubiquitous. A portmanteau of parenting and sharing, sharenting is defined as parents oversharing content about their children on social media. This includes photos, videos and personal stories. While this apparently allows parents to connect, celebrate milestones and share the joys of parenting, sharenting exposes children to the darker side of the digital world. Momentarily alleviating social isolation and bringing about perceived social validation can have perilous consequences for the child.

According to a survey by security.org, 75 per cent of parents have shared a picture, stories or videos of their children on social media, and more than 80 per cent parents have used real names. A study by Barclays Bank predicts that by 2030, annual occurrences of identity fraud associated with sharenting could lead to damages up to $900 million.