What Is “Sharenting,” And Should You Do It?

Social media has made it very easy for us to share our lives with others. Whether we have a funny story to tell, a complaint we have to vent about or amazing children we can’t get enough of. This is being called, “sharenting,” and the major argument is that creates an issue of privacy for our children. According to The Washington Post some mothers have been criticized when posting certain articles or making references to their children because of the permanence that comes with posting something on the internet. Whether it is an adorable story, a complaint or a plea for help from other parents the world knows that much more about your child. This follows them forever, and worst of all the information you’re sharing could be something that they really don’t want people to know in the future. Even though our children are OUR children, not all stories are for us to tell. The Guardian makes reference to parents who feel that the benefits of sharenting outweigh the negative possibilities. For example, parents of autistic children have found the connections made through sharenting to be priceless, even better it has given their children an opportunity to have a “voice.” Social media’s mass appeal seems to stem from a need for connection and a need to feel less alone. Today offers a very solid piece of advice, before you share consider this one thing, “Would I want my child’s future employer to be able to see this information?” A cute photograph could be very embarrassing down the line, so could oversharing a medical condition. We all want to make those connections but most likely sharing with just a few friends should provide us with enough validation and keep our child’s future integrity intact.