Children are incredibly perceptive, I have discovered. They absorb their surroundings and interpret nonverbal cues, observing the behaviour of the so-called ‘adults’ around them with curious minds. It’s the year 2024, and what do children see when they look around a room? They see adults engrossed in a tiny screen that has stifled conversation and human interaction. They also notice that adults have a fondness for taking pictures. Some of these pictures are called ‘selfies,’ taken by extending their arms in awkward positions to capture themselves making funny faces. When these adults aren’t taking selfies, they photograph their food (sometimes while standing on chairs), pets, random things on the street, and of course, as the observant little kids note, them too.
Gone are the days of going through childhood photo albums, reminiscing over a pot of tea, and laughing at awkward phases and outdated clothing. Now, everyone seeks internet fame and recognition as their pictures and videos flood the newsfeeds of friends and strangers alike. Naturally, parents love taking pictures of their children. Who wouldn’t? Children are adorable and do and say funny things every day. It makes sense that parents would want to share these moments with the world…or does it? If parents teach their children about ‘stranger danger’, do they truly want those strangers to have access to their children’s photos, which could be downloaded and shared on inappropriate websites? Probably not.
This seemingly harmless habit is known as ‘sharenting’ – sharing posts about one’s child, such as photos, videos, or comments they have made. It’s understandable that parents want to share their children’s developmental milestones with loved ones. However, upon closer inspection, some of these shared posts can be unsettling. While pictures of the first day of school and holidays are great, some parents choose to share photos of their children on the toilet, crying, or in the hospital. Are these moments in which anyone would like to be seen? I doubt that those same people would appreciate being captured in such vulnerable moments and having those images shared on social media. It is not only about the fact that these children’s faces are exposed on the World Wide Web for all to see. Once something is out there, it can never be removed. But this issue goes beyond that. It is about the many ways this can impact a child’s life, without their consent. If a child is crying or in pain, and the parent prioritises taking videos over comforting them, that is a serious problem. If a parent constantly asks their child to pose and posts pictures every day, they need to question whether they are seeking validation for their own egos.
In a study conducted in the United States over the past decade, with a sample size of 250 families, the majority of children over 10 expressed frustration and embarrassment when their parents shared photos of them. Many parents do not consider the future when their children will be old enough to search for themselves online and may be unhappy with what they find.
If parents teach their children about ‘stranger danger’, do they truly want those strangers to have access to their children’s photos, which could be downloaded and shared on inappropriate websites? Probably not.
This is the first generation born into the era of social media. It is unsurprising that many of them have mastered posing, with bent knees, sassy elbow triangles, and picture-perfect smiles. What is even more uncanny than 5-year-olds resembling sorority girls is the fact that they know terms like Facebook and Instagram. This behaviour of ‘sharenting’ or ‘oversharenting’ not only stems from narcissism but also encourages it as children become more self-conscious about their appearance and how they are presented to the public.
While it is still too early to fully understand the long-term consequences of this habit, it is common sense to speculate that it is likely not healthy for children. The pride and joy of parenthood are abundant, but it should not be solely about satisfying one’s ego. Like anything else, caution should be exercised in this habit. We already live in a world saturated with information, and innocent children should not have to suffer the consequences. They deserve to enjoy their childhood without worrying about their public persona.