Health experts are warning parents about the dangers of “sharenting,” which refers to the act of oversharing details about their children on social media. This can have long-lasting impacts on the mental health of children, as even innocent posts like sharing a child’s positive report card can negatively impact their self-esteem. Posting about private milestones or mistakes a child made can also be humiliating for children. Experts caution that the full impacts of sharenting have yet to be seen, but mental health issues have begun to be observed in teenagers, with some mentioning their discomfort with their parents’ digital behavior in counseling sessions. The long-term emotional impact of sharenting on children has not yet been fully researched.
Cleveland Clinic psychologist Dr. Susan Albers warns that parents may unknowingly create pressure on their children by crafting an idealized image online of who their child is, leading to dips in self-esteem and self-worth. She explains that sharenting comes with a lot of gray areas regarding a child’s privacy, autonomy, protection, and right to informed consent. While some countries have regulations in place to ensure parents share safely, there are not many laws in the U.S. that protect children online, leaving the responsibility on individuals to determine when their social media use crosses a line.
Experts like Dr. Marc Siegel are echoing concerns about sharenting, noting that it can emerge when parents obsess over their social media engagement and post more personal information to elicit a reaction. This behavior can exacerbate the negative effects of social media on children, such as ostracization, marginalization, and feelings of loneliness and isolation. Multiple studies have shown that these experiences can lead to worsening anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and even suicidal thoughts in a majority of teen girls. Dr. Siegel emphasizes that parents need to be mindful of the potential harm caused by sharenting and avoid exploiting their children through their online posts.
Teenagers are already vulnerable to the negative impacts of social media, and adding sharenting into the mix can further contribute to their emotional distress. Dr. Albers emphasizes the importance of understanding the long-term emotional impact that sharenting may have on children, as these impacts have not been fully researched. She urges parents to consider the potential consequences of their online behavior on their children’s mental health and to approach sharenting with caution. As the discussion around sharenting continues, it is essential for parents to prioritize their children’s well-being and privacy when sharing information on social media.
