Are You Guilty of “Sharenting”?

By Tracey Dowdy
Are you guilty of “sharenting”? Don’t know what that is? Actually, you’re probably familiar with the concept, perhaps just not the term.
Last week I came across a news story of an Austrian teenager who is suing her parents for sharenting. They had been sharing her childhood photos on Facebook and despite her repeated requests for them to stop, particularly posting photos of her in the bath or having her diaper changed, they continued to post. As a result, she felt she had no recourse except to pursue legal action. That’s obviously the far end of the spectrum, but she isn’t alone in her attitude.
So, how much is too much? If they’re your children and your photos, don’t you have the right to post and share? Well, ask yourself, “Do I have the right to curate someone else’s social media presence without their consent?”
The divide seems to be generational – if you’re the parent or grandparent, the answer tends to be “Yes” but if you’re the child, the answer is almost always “No.” In fact, a 2016 study by the University of Michigan found three times as many kids as adults felt it was important for parents to have rules about what could be posted on social media.
As a parent, we want to share those funny anecdotes and charming videos and most parents aren’t looking for an audience beyond their family and friends. But, once it’s online, those photos and videos take on a life of their own.
Remember the video of 3 year-old Mateo and his negotiations for a cupcake? No? What if I said, “Linda, Linda, Linda, you’re not listening to me!” Now you remember don’t you? At the time of this post, the video has 48,620,411 views on YouTube. Mateo made it to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, received not one but an entire tower of Batman and Superman cupcakes, and Linda got a trip to a spa plus a check for $10,000. Not a bad return for three minutes of negotiations between a mom and her toddler.
You may know Laney Griner’s son Sammy as “Success Kid”. Initially, Griner was unhappy about Sammy’s photo going viral until recently when she was able to capitalize on the meme and raise $90K for her husband’s dialysis. “Without that happening, how much could I get this recognition about my husband’s kidney transplant?” she asked in an interview with ABC news.
Both those examples, despite Laney Griner’s initial displeasure, have happy endings but that’s not always the case. Aside from cyber-crimes like digital kidnapping and photos being stolen and posted to child-porn sites, kids are just flat unhappy that parents don’t consider the post from their perspective.
According to Dr. Leonard Sax, child and adolescent development expert and author of The Collapse of Parenting, “A lot of these things you think are harmless, are not actually that harmless… My first question to parents when they ask if it’s okay to post about their child is, ‘Why are you doing this?'” says Dr. Sax.
I think that’s a good rule to apply to anything we post online. Why are you posting it? Attention? Validation?
Engaging in an online community of support can be a positive thing. But those of us so mindful of curating our own digital identities would do well to offer our children the same consideration.
Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.
To the theonlinemom.com admin, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures.
Hello theonlinemom.com admin, Good job!
To the theonlinemom.com owner, Your posts are always well-timed and relevant.
Dear theonlinemom.com admin, Your posts are always well-supported by facts and figures.
Hello theonlinemom.com owner, Your posts are always informative and well-explained.
Hi theonlinemom.com admin, Your posts are always informative and well-explained.
To the theonlinemom.com administrator, Your posts are always insightful and valuable.
To the theonlinemom.com administrator, Thanks for the well-presented post!
Hi theonlinemom.com webmaster, Your posts are always a great read.
To the theonlinemom.com admin, Your posts are always well-referenced and credible.
Hi theonlinemom.com administrator, Your posts are always well-cited and reliable.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% sure. Any recommendations or advice
would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you,
you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about.
Now i’m very happy I found this during my search for something relating to this.
Fastidious response in return of this matter
with solid arguments and explaining the whole thing on the topic of that.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that
I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you may be a great
author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back someday.
I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice
day!
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was entirely right.
This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how
much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
After looking into a handful of the blog posts on your website, I honestly appreciate your technique of writing a blog.
I added it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my web site as well and let me know
your opinion.
Howdy! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I really
enjoy reading through your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics?
Thanks for your time!
Hello! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and
finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Texas!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent work!
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more
than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and all.
However think about if you added some great images or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is excellent but with images and video clips,
this website could certainly be one of the most beneficial in its niche.
Great blog!
Dear theonlinemom.com owner, Your posts are always well received by the community.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you really understand what you are talking approximately!
Bookmarked. Please additionally consult with
my site =). We may have a hyperlink change arrangement between us
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
Great site you have here but I was curious about if you
knew of any community forums that cover the
same topics talked about here? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get opinions from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Many thanks!
Hi there! This article couldn’t be written much better!
Reading through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He constantly kept preaching about this. I am going to forward this post
to him. Fairly certain he will have a very good read.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks very interesting blog!
Thanks for finally talking about > Are You Guilty of “Sharenting”?
– The Online Mom < Liked it!
This text is worth everyone’s attention. Where can I find out more?
It is the best time to make a few plans for the longer term
and it is time to be happy. I have learn this submit and if I may just I desire to suggest you some attention-grabbing issues
or tips. Perhaps you can write next articles relating to this article.
I desire to learn more things about it!
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources
back to your website? My website is in the very same area of interest as
yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Regards!
Hi everyone, it’s my first pay a quick visit at this web site, and paragraph is in fact fruitful in favor of me, keep up posting such posts.
Howdy! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I
came to take a look. I’m definitely enjoying
the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting
this to my followers! Fantastic blog and fantastic design and style.
It’s very straightforward to find out any topic on net as compared
to books, as I found this paragraph at this web page.
hello!,I really like your writing so much! share we be
in contact extra about your article on AOL?
I require an expert in this area to resolve my problem.
May be that is you! Looking ahead to look you.
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your web site offered us with useful info to work on. You’ve done
an impressive process and our whole neighborhood will probably be thankful to you.
It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before ending I am reading this
impressive article to increase my know-how.
These are in fact impressive ideas in regarding blogging.
You have touched some nice points here. Any way keep
up wrinting.
hello!,I love your writing so so much! share we communicate more approximately your post on AOL?
I need a specialist in this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you!
Having a look forward to look you.