Are Parents Putting Their Children at Risk by Sharing Too Much Online?

Experts urge parents to balance celebrating children’s milestones with protecting their privacy, safety and digital future in an age of AI, deepfakes and identity theft.

From first birthdays to school awards and dance performances, social media has become a digital family album for millions of parents. Sharing children’s achievements helps families stay connected, celebrate milestones and, in some cases, support aspiring athletes, performers and young content creators. However, child safety experts warn that excessive online sharing commonly known as “sharenting,” can expose children to long-term privacy and safety risks.

According to UNICEF, once a photograph or video is uploaded online, parents lose control over how it is copied, shared or used. Every post contributes to a child’s digital footprint, creating a permanent online record that could affect their privacy and reputation well into adulthood.

Experts say many parents share content to keep relatives informed, document family memories or promote their children’s talents. While these reasons are understandable, oversharing can unintentionally reveal sensitive details such as a child’s school, hobbies, neighbourhood, holiday locations or daily routine.

One growing concern is the misuse of children’s images through artificial intelligence. Publicly available photographs can be downloaded, altered or used to create fake images, deepfakes or inappropriate content without a family’s knowledge. Even innocent photographs of children in swimwear, dance costumes or gymnastics attire can be manipulated or misused by malicious individuals.

Child safety specialists also highlight the importance of digital consent. Sharing a child’s personal moments without involving them in the decision may overlook their right to privacy and autonomy. As children grow older, parents are encouraged to seek their permission before posting photographs and explain how information shared online can remain accessible for years.

Another concern is the psychological impact of growing up with an extensive online presence. Constant public attention or validation through likes and comments may create pressure, comparisons or embarrassment later in life, especially if personal or humorous content continues circulating online.

Experts recommend that parents adopt a privacy-first approach when posting about their children. Social media accounts should have strong privacy settings, and parents should carefully review who can view their posts. They should avoid revealing identifiable information such as full names, school uniforms, school logos, addresses, regular locations, birthdays or daily routines.

Parents are also advised to avoid sharing embarrassing stories or photographs that may affect a child’s self-esteem in the future. Instead, they should consider how their child might feel about the post several years later.

Families can further reduce digital risks by discussing photo-sharing preferences with relatives, caregivers and schools. Experts also recommend reviewing old social media posts with children once they reach around nine or ten years of age and deleting content that is no longer appropriate or relevant.

While experts acknowledge that sharing family moments online can never be completely risk-free, they stress that thoughtful and limited sharing can help protect children’s privacy, identity and wellbeing in an increasingly digital world.

Tips for Parents Before Posting

• Review your privacy settings regularly.
• Avoid sharing full names, school names, uniform logos, birthdays or locations.
• Never post embarrassing or highly personal content.
• Think about how the post may affect your child in the future.
• Seek your child’s consent whenever they are old enough to understand.
• Regularly review and delete older posts that are no longer necessary.

Disclaimer: Online safety recommendations may vary depending on a child’s age, platform privacy settings and individual circumstances. Parents should regularly review the latest guidance issued by child safety organisations and social media platforms.