Many parents share stories, pictures, and videos of their children on social media because they are proud of their families and because they want to keep in touch with their friends and relatives. Due to the difficulties of parenting, social media is also helpful for seeking assistance and feeling less alone.
The question is, how much sharing is too much, and does sharing on social media put kids in danger? In this article, we’ll dissect whether or not disclosing personal information about your kids online could endanger them, as well as some questions you should consider asking yourself before hitting “publish.”
While young children might not give what their parents post about them on social media much care, that might change as they become older. According to an article on Common Sense Media, children begin to develop a sense of who they are as individuals and how the rest of the world sees them around the age of five.
As concerns over their privacy increases, they could begin to feel ashamed of the information their parents share about them on social media, particularly when it includes early childhood anecdotes, amusing photos, and updates on developmental and behavioral difficulties.
Sharing inappropriate content on social media might also give kids the impression that they don’t have control over their own bodies or values. Children don’t really have the chance to disagree with their parents when they share sensitive photos of bath time and other events on social media.
Additionally, they are unable to oppose any political or social messages that their parents try to instill in them. For instance, when they look back on those photos as adults, how will some kids feel about the 2008 presidential election banners or slogan t-shirts they’re wearing? How will they feel about being on their parents’ Facebook accounts as political statements?
It makes sense that you would want to post on social media about your family. If you do decide to share, consider asking your kids for permission and what they are comfortable with and exercise caution. Pay special attention to the privacy settings on your social media profiles. Select your photos wisely. Ask your friends and family not to share any photos or videos of your child online. Also begin assisting your child in deciding what is appropriate to share with others. These discussions are helpful in preparing your child for living in the digital age and can help prevent negative emotions in the future.
Also see: What age is safe to give your kids access to the internet
