The Danger of Sharenting

For the vast majority of people, checking social media involves a mix of expectation and curiosity. The app feeds on a collective     1     that we are missing out on something, whether it’s a fabulous party, a pop-up sale, or the mere concept of vacation. But the same dynamic doesn’t quite     2     to parents sharing pictures of their young children online. There certainly may be an element of proud boasting: “Admire my little son’s taste in jazz,” etc. But these carefully chosen photos often do little more than help parents escape from a harsh day     3    . The isolation of parenthood delivers one to strange places, and you need your tribe. Sharing images on social media makes the experience     4    , connecting one to a larger world.

In his new book Why We Should Think Before We Talk About Our Kids Online, Leah Plunkett, a Harvard psychology professor, argues that “sharenting” happens when an adult transmits private details about a child via digital channels. It     5     a child’s entry into “digital life.” Studies estimate that by 2030 nearly two-thirds of identity-fraud cases affecting today’s children will have been caused by sharenting.

For Plunkett, there are a couple of reasons to be concerned about sharenting. On a philosophical level, sharenting exposes children to the larger digital world without their permission,     6     them of a kind of privacy. This feeds into Plunkett’s second, much broader concern. The     7     problem with sharenting is the same with many adult-world privacy issues: the bargain we have made in exchange for these services is that we surrender our data and choose not to imagine the worst-case scenarios. Could things that parents post about children produce real-world     8    , in terms of bullying, professional reputation, or future prospects? Today, long before children take their first step, their digital data already travels to “thousands, likely tens of thousands, of human and machine users.” How long will it be until someone     9     the power to predict who a child will become as an adult based on these data points?

Plunkett’s concerns made parents reconsider their choices. In the end, Plunkett’s advice is to “make more mindful choices” about digital lives though parenthood is often so     10     vague that mindfulness seems impossible.

While the Internet brings people closer together, it also harms friendships.

Firstly, talking online can’t    1     face-to-face contact. According to a parenting expert, Denise Daniels, communicating through a screen makes it harder for children to concentrate or show kindness to others. As we know, important social skills, which enable us   to develop lifelong friendships, are developed     2       direct contact   with others.

Secondly, the Internet makes people self-centered. For example, instead of communicating with their friends, some are only    3     with their online popularity―the number of “likes” or followers, which we know can’t compare to having long-term and rewarding friendships. Besides, much of the     4       posted on social media     does not have a lot of significant value. Posts about funny cat images can’t help form meaningful relationships.

Thirdly,   online relationships   may not be as they appear. Friendships are built based on    5    , and with   online communication you can’t be certain that the people you are chatting to are being honest about their identities. Therefore, going online can be dangerous for people who are easily influenced or too trusting of strangers.

I think the best way to maintain healthy relationships is to     6       more   on face-to-face communication,   and less on online communication.