In the past few years, the term “sharenting” has gained popularity in the media press and among academics, indicating the act of parents posting pictures, videos, and stories about the offspring on social media. The expression is so widespread that has been added to dictionary. Sharenting seems to be a common trend in the global North, with 85% of mothers in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan reporting to have shared pictures of their children under two on social media.
I had no idea about this word — why should I? After all, I am neither a parent nor do I approve of sharing photos of kids. I sometimes have shared photos of my goddaughter and instantly regretted it, and now stopped sharing altogether. However, sharenting is a cultural phenomenon, and there are some broader implications around children, their privacy, and the impact of sharing on their future.