More than 40% of UK parents put pictures or videos of their children online. Showing how prevalent online sharing is now, the word sharing entered the Oxford English Dictionary in June 2022, meaning when parents share news, pictures and videos of their children on social media. Parents engage in sharing for many reasons: because they are proud of their children and want to tell family and friends about their children’s milestones and daily lives; Getting support and mentoring from other parents; And to cherish the memories. It can also be a source of income. Influencers can earn substantial amounts from brand partnerships by sharing their family life online.
For many parents, the decision of what, where and how much to share is a dilemma. New parents may find themselves facing an uncomfortable paradox: They know that sharing can impact their children’s privacy, but see social media as a vital source of support and connection for first-time parents. goes. Some parents may feel like they have no real choice. Increasingly parents are encouraged to share by third parties. This includes family, friends, schools, communities, media and big brands. More research is still needed to confirm how sharing affects children and their privacy. However, sharing appears to pose some risk. Some parents have stopped sharing photos of their children after becoming the target of poachers.
Researchers have also discovered that it is relatively easy for third parties to obtain children’s photos, names and dates of birth through parents’ Facebook and Instagram posts, and link this information to other online and offline sources to create detailed profiles. Is. New parents considering posting a birth announcement on social media should keep in mind that sharing this information may put their child at risk of identity fraud. Many popular social media providers collect and share information with each other. Information shared by other companies may be collected, which monetize this information, profiling children and their families, using their interests and targeting marketing.
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What to keep in mind There are ways to make sharing on social media more secure. You can turn off geotagging on your smartphone’s camera app so that location data is not attached to photos. Another option is to review privacy settings and limit who can see your posts. For example, on Instagram, by default, adult accounts are set to Public. If you want your information to be available only to your followers, set your account to private. Alternatively, consider using one of the many private social networks designed for families who don’t want to share information outside a group of people.
Children’s images and information are increasingly shared not only by parents, but also by family members, friends and schools. It can be helpful for new parents to think about how they want their babies to be portrayed on social media and to interact with friends and family about how their babies’ information is shared online before their baby is born. Will go This can avoid conflict at a later stage. It’s also worth thinking about what impact your post might have in the future. Babies and kids can’t tell you what they think of your posts, so as their privacy manager you need to consider how your posts might affect them.
When you share your children’s information online you are creating your child’s digital identity, a digital footprint that will follow your child’s entire life. Consider whether your child wants friends or future employers to see the information you shared as a child. When teens begin to develop their identities they may be especially concerned about their privacy, and the way they are portrayed online can affect their friendships and relationships.
Avoid information that is over-disclosure or private, or that could upset or embarrass your child in the future, such as potty training, tantrums, nude or semi-dressed images, and images that the child may consider , they can make them unattractive. Some research has been done to examine what young people think about sharing children in pictures. Some say it can be positive, if they are portrayed well and the content supports a positive online image or identity. Some children say their parents’ posts make them feel happy and proud, while others love that it can help them connect with extended family. A child of a parent who blogs about their family online said it can be great… like having a big family of people watching me grow up.
However, some children suggest that sharing can cause embarrassment and anxiety. Many people wish their parents asked their permission before posting. Even the one who didn’t think that sharing had a negative effect on them said that it could mean growing up of a different type and that’s not something they can do as parents. will do. Once you feel that your child is old enough to express his views, talk to him. Figuring out what your child does and doesn’t want you to post can avoid irritation, frustration, misunderstanding, and conflict.
State who you want to share the information with and why. The NSPCC’s Family Online Agreement, which prompts parents and children to agree on a strategy before posting information online, can be used to start conversations about sharing from an early age .
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