New research has revealed that the growing culture of parents sharing pictures and videos of their children online, popularly known as “sharenting”, may expose children to serious risks including identity theft, cyberbullying, harassment, and even sexual exploitation.
The study, conducted by the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, surveyed over 1,000 parents and later conducted follow-up interviews.
Findings showed that 45 percent of parents regularly post images of their children online, while one in six admitted that their children had already suffered harm linked to such exposure.
Lead researcher, Dr. Pamela Ugwudike, warned that sharenting poses “a real and present danger” to children.
According to her, while parents may innocently wish to celebrate milestones or special family moments, such posts often contain sensitive information such as birthdays, home addresses, schools, and even pet names — all of which could later be exploited by cybercriminals for identity fraud or to make direct contact with children both online and offline.
Expert Concerns Over Privacy Settings
Child safety advocates say many parents and schools mistakenly believe that privacy settings on social media platforms fully protect children’s content. But this is far from reality.
“Features like tagging and re-sharing can easily override privacy settings, allowing content to circulate far beyond the intended audience — even from private accounts,” said Rani Govender, Online Policy Manager at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in the UK.
She stressed that widely sharing children’s photos not only jeopardises their privacy but also leaves a digital footprint that may haunt them into adulthood.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has also sounded the alarm on new threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI). According to IWF’s Head of Safeguarding, Kerry Smith, criminals are already exploiting AI to manipulate innocent family photos into highly realistic sexual images of children.
“We have seen offenders boast online that with just a handful of normal, non-sexual images, they can create life-like nude and abusive pictures of any child,” Smith warned.
She added that such AI-generated material could be used for sexual extortion and blackmail, with devastating consequences for victims.
Growing Debate on Children’s Rights
Sharenting has been the subject of global debate for years, with critics arguing that parents may be infringing on their children’s right to privacy.
The controversy gained international attention in 2019 when Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow posted a photo of her daughter Apple on Instagram, sparking public criticism after the teenager revealed she had not given her mother permission.
Experts say this highlights the broader issue of parents making digital choices that may affect their children’s safety and consent for years to come.
Call for Responsible Online Behaviour
Researchers and child safety advocates are now urging parents, guardians, and schools to exercise greater caution when sharing children’s information online. They recommend:
Limiting the amount of personal information revealed in posts.
Understanding and regularly updating privacy settings.
Avoiding location tags, school uniforms, or details that could expose children’s whereabouts.
Seeking consent as children grow older, to respect their autonomy and privacy rights.
Dr. Ugwudike concluded that while parents may have good intentions, “sharenting is not a harmless act. It can expose children to risks that go far beyond childhood, with long-lasting impacts on their security and well-being.”