Let’s explain to you what is the practice of sharentingso that if you come across this term you know exactly what they mean. It has to do with things that parents do today, and is related to sharing their children’s content on social networks.
And after explaining this concept to you, which you will see is something very easy to understand, we are going to tell you what are the privacy risks of sharenting in an uncontrolled way, and how you can avoid many of them.
What is sharenting
The term sharenting is a combination of the words share and parenting. It would literally be something like co-parenting, but taking it to a technological environment.
What we mean by the term sharenting is when Parents share information about their children on social networkssuch as photographs, videos or other types of personal information.
Parents usually do this in a well-intentioned way, simply so that their family and friends can see how their children are growing and the things they do together. However, when these practices are carried out without adequate precautions can put privacy at risk of the child both in the short and long term.
What dangers can it have for children?
Uncontrolled shareparenting without safety guidelines can have dangers for your son or daughter. It is important to think that everything you share publicly is available to everyoneso any stranger may have data or images of the minor.
This, in extreme cases, can lead to misuse of these images or videos you share. The photos can be shared by whoever has access to them, and they can be used or manipulated for inappropriate contexts, and they can even end up on dangerous sites.
It also means a security risk of the minors. Their routines, locations, and names may be exposed, leading to them being used for online harassment or phishing practices.
And in the best case scenario, you will be creating a digital footprint too early without the minor’s permission, which can affect their future personal or professional life. Or maybe as they grow up they feel embarrassed or upset by the exposure that their parents made when they were little.
How to avoid some of these dangers
The first thing you have to do is be aware that what you share on social networks is public by default for everyone. If the minor is already old enough, the first thing is that you ask him or her for permission, so that they learn to be able to decide about their own image and privacy.
Beyond that, it is important review the privacy settings of your social networks. On Facebook you can make the content not public, but visible only to your friends, and on Instagram you have settings such as best friends so that when you share something for them, only the people you have previously chosen can see this.
It is also important do not show the minor’s face It is always something that will maximize privacy, especially when you want to share something publicly. For example, you can use safe photos, such as just your hands, and you can use use angles that do not reveal identity of the minor in the photographs.
Furthermore, you must avoid giving personal datasuch as full names, addresses, locations where you usually move or school names. This data could be used for harassment or identity theft.
It is imperative and important not to share compromising photossuch as with uniforms, swimsuits or in somewhat more intimate situations. These photos could be attractive to people you don’t want to be able to access them.
And finally always think long term. Before publishing, think about how you would feel or how your son or daughter might feel when this photograph will still be public and online in several years.
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