More Than Half (53.57%) Believe Sharenting Can Lead to Cyberbullying

Sharenting, the practice of parents sharing their children’s moments online, may seem innocent, but it has repercussions in society. Oversharing exposes children to privacy risks, potential exploitation, and emotional distress as they grow older. To mitigate the impact, parents should adopt responsible sharing practices, adjust privacy settings, and seek consent, striking a balance between celebrating parenthood and safeguarding their children’s future.

Real Research, an online survey app, launched a public opinion on ‘sharenting’ and its repercussions to gauge public opinion about the impacts of sharenting.

Highlights:

• 34.15% have observed sharenting on occasion.
• Nine in ten respondents (90.7%) find sharenting concerning.
• A significant (90.38%) agree on stricter regulations to prevent sharenting.

A Past Trend with Varied Awareness and Growing Concerns

In the past, sharenting emerged as a popular trend, with 35.71% being well aware of this practice, 30.45% having vague awareness, and 33.84% being unaware of it. Around 34.15% witnessed such practices around them sometimes, while 32.1% encountered them rarely, 20.8% very often, and 12.95% never.

The tweet by Assam Police served as an eye-opener, as 52.67% found sharenting concerning, 38.03% were somewhat concerned, 5.04% were not so much, and 4.26% were not concerned at all.

Navigating Legal Perspectives and the Call for Stricter Regulations

Legal counselors played a crucial role in recognizing the potential legal frameworks that could address sharenting abuses effectively. Among them, international human rights laws were considered relevant in safeguarding children’s rights to privacy and protection from exploitation.

Labor protections were seen as a potential avenue to ensure that child actors or performers were not subject to undue exposure through sharenting. Additionally, online child privacy statutes were recognized as essential in regulating the digital space and preventing oversharing that could compromise a child’s safety.

The survey revealed that a significant portion of respondents shared the counselors’ perspective, with 45.33% strongly agreeing and 45.05% somewhat agreeing that stricter regulations or guidelines were necessary to prevent sharenting.

However, a smaller percentage disagreed to some extent, with 7.49% expressing reservations about imposing stricter regulations. Their concerns might have been related to potential conflicts with freedom of speech or concerns about government interference in personal matters.

A minority of 2.13% strongly disagreed with the need for stricter regulations or guidelines, possibly believing that sharenting was a matter of personal choice and that existing laws were sufficient to address any potential issues.

Potential Sharenting Risks Associated with Children

The subsequent survey poll highlighted various potential harms associated with sharenting. A considerable 38.56% believed that oversharing could lead to the exploitation of the child for social media popularity or even monetization, as some individuals might profit from the child’s exposure without considering their best interests.

Additionally, 27.97% were concerned about the possibility of sharenting promoting unrealistic standards or expectations for the child’s appearance or behavior.

Another worry, expressed by 18.75% of respondents, was the creation of a digital footprint that might affect the child’s future reputation. Information shared during childhood could potentially resurface and influence how others perceive the child in the future.

The issue of compromising the child’s safety was on the minds of 11.25% of respondents. Sharing location or identifiable information on social media could expose the child to potential risks, such as online predators or other threats.

Lastly, 3.47% cited other reasons, suggesting a diverse range of concerns.

Read Also: 85.65% Say Kids in Their Families Use Digital Devices

Sharenting Risks: 54% Concerned about Cyberbullying, 21% Skeptical

In the next survey poll, the risks of sharenting extended to cyberbullying were identified, with 53.57% believing it could lead to insults, mocking, or bullying from social media users. 21.42% disagreed, while 25.01% remained uncertain about the possibility.

Furthermore, regarding its impact on a child’s future well-being, 38.82% were absolutely convinced, 47.89% believed it probably would, and 13.29% thought it would not have severe negative effects of sharenting.

To address this issue effectively, 53.86% suggested establishing clear online boundaries and guidelines for children’s lives. Additionally, 35.03% proposed providing resources for protecting their privacy on social media, 7.06% recommended promoting media literacy for evaluating sharing habits, and 4.05% suggested encouraging alternative ways of celebrating milestones privately.

In conclusion, sharenting had its allure, but it can come with significant repercussions. The need for responsible sharing and safeguarding children’s well-being was evident, as awareness grew about the potential risks involved in oversharing on social media.