*Updated 2026
A proud parent’s natural instinct is to celebrate their child’s wins and milestones, whether it’s losing a wiggly tooth or growing a centimeter taller, most parents want to share that pride with others. Introducing the rise of “sharenting,” the practice of parents sharing photos and updates about their children’s lives online. This new digital era has sparked a growing debate about social media and family life. While some parents see it as a way to preserve memories and stay connected with loved ones, others question its potential impact on children’s privacy and digital identities.
So, is posting photos of your children simply part of modern parenting, or does it cross a line when it comes to their privacy?
No Shame in Sharing
The key to maintaining connection
For families separated by distance, social media acts as a real-life portal, offering a glimpse into the lives of their loved ones from afar. It lets grandparents, relatives, and friends remain involved in a child’s life, even when they cannot be physically present. When parents share their children’s special moments online, it helps strengthen family relationships and create a sense of connection. Of parents who posted about their children online, 76% said staying connected with family and friends was a core reason for sharing. Posting online also offers a layer of support to parents who look for understanding and relatability from other parents. A national poll of parents with children aged 0–4 found that social media helped 72% feel less alone, 67% receive helpful parenting advice, and 62% worry less about parenting. It’s important to recognize the power of sharing when bringing families closer together and providing parents with a valuable sense of community and support.
Parental Rights Shouldn’t Stop at the Digital World
If parents are responsible for making decisions about every aspect of their children’s upbringing, including morals, education, healthcare, and social interactions…then why should responsibly sharing content of their children online be any different? In fact, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission states that COPPA doesn’t prohibit parents from posting photos of their children on general-audience websites. Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics actually encourages parents to consider the benefits and risks of sharing family moments online rather than avoiding it entirely. France’s 2024 law protecting children‘s image rights also emphasizes responsible sharing and privacy safeguards instead of a complete ban. If parents are trusted to make important decisions about their children’s futures, why should sharing family memories online be treated as a wrongful act?
The Problem Isn’t Sharing, It’s Oversharing
Just because a photo of a child is shared online doesn’t necessarily mean it is putting the child’s privacy at risk. Treating all forms of sharing as equally harmful overlooks an important distinction. Posting an occasional family photo is different from sharing every detail of a child’s personal life without considering their privacy. Parents can take precautions to protect their children from harm online, such as limiting who sees their posts, avoiding identifiable information, and asking older children for permission before sharing. Rather than discouraging parents from sharing family memories altogether, the focus should be on educating them about safer online practices. After all, the solution to irresponsible sharing is greater responsibility, not restricting all parents.
The Consequences of Sharenting
Digital Exploitation and The Use of Artificial Intelligence
What may seem like an innocent family photo can quickly end up in the wrong hands, exposing children to risks parents never intended. According to a report, 50% of children’s photos and videos found on paedo-criminal forums were originally posted online by their own parents. Once shared online, images can reveal personal information, be copied without permission, or even be manipulated using artificial intelligence. The American Psychological Association warned in June 2026 that technological advances have increased risks associated with “sharenting”. These risks include cyberbullying, where children’s photos can be used to embarrass or harass them, and identity theft, where personal information can be misused to impersonate them. Data exploitation is another concern, as images and personal details shared online can be stored or used by third parties without the child’s knowledge or consent. Even responsible parents can’t guarantee how their images will be used once they circulate online. Their children’s safety should undoubtedly take priority over the convenience or desire to share a photograph.
Too Young to Consent
Children generally can’t properly consent to having their lives documented all over social media, yet their digital footprints may begin before they can even walk and talk. Once photographs are shared online, they can be saved, redistributed, or even discovered years after they were taken, potentially exposing personal moments children would have preferred to keep private. A 2023 University of Michigan poll found that almost 80% of surveyed parents believed other parents overshared on social media, while more than 60% believed parents sometimes posted information that could embarrass their children later in life. A parent’s pride shouldn’t automatically outweigh a child’s future autonomy. Children deserve the chance to decide which moments in their childhood and lives become public knowledge.
A Child’s Right to Digital Privacy
Every parent’s goal should be to keep their children safe. However, safety does not equate to control. And in this case, taking full control over what they share about their kids online is quite the opposite of protection, instead, it’s tampering with their public identities. France recognized this distinction in February 2024 by passing legislation strengthening children’s rights over their own images. The law requires parents to respect their children’s privacy, consider their views according to maturity, and allows judicial intervention when parental sharing causes serious harm. This supports the idea that protecting kids often requires placing limitations on parental discretion, as parenthood should provide a duty to protect privacy, not an unrestricted right to surrender it
The Bottom Line: A single photo can capture a precious memory, but it can also leave a lasting digital footprint. Sharing family moments online has its benefits and risks, raising an important question: Where should the line be drawn between parental freedom and children’s right to privacy?
