Sharenting: What Is It and What Are The Hidden Costs?
As parents, there are few things we enjoy more than celebrating our children. From first steps and birthdays to championship games and graduation ceremonies, we naturally want to share those special moments with family and friends. Social media has made that easier than ever. In just a few seconds, a photo can be seen by hundreds or even thousands of people. Most of us do it without giving it a second thought. But what if one of the greatest parenting questions today isn't what we post, but whether we should post it at all?
One of the reasons this topic caught my attention is because the conversation has changed dramatically over the past few years. Researchers are now warning that every photo we share contributes to our children's digital identity, often before they are old enough to understand what that means. With artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and data collection becoming more sophisticated, a simple family photo may reveal far more than we realize. School logos, locations, birthdays, and even a child's facial features can all become part of a permanent digital footprint that they never chose to create.
Perhaps the most sobering example comes from Utah. Ruby Franke built an enormous following by sharing the everyday lives of her children online. Over time, the pursuit of views and engagement became increasingly intertwined with family life. In 2023, she was convicted of child abuse after investigators uncovered years of physical and emotional mistreatment. The case shocked the country and ultimately led Utah to pass new legislation protecting children who appear in monetized social media content. While very few parents would ever imagine crossing that line, the story reminds us how easily social media can begin to influence our decisions rather than simply documenting our lives. Before you hit "post," ask yourself one simple question: If my child were 25 years old and sitting next to me, would they thank me for sharing this, or wish I hadn't? That one question may be one of the best filters we have for deciding what belongs online.
This isn't an argument for never posting another family picture. But perhaps we should become more intentional about what we choose to share. Long before our children build careers, relationships, or families of their own, they are building an identity. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give them is the opportunity to help shape that identity for themselves. Before we hit "post," let's make sure we're not simply asking whether others will enjoy seeing the picture. Let's ask whether we're protecting the future of the person in it.
What Parents Ned to Know Before Sharing Their Children's Lives Online. Efua Andoh. Monitor on Psychology, June 2026
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