Introduction: The Psychological Implications of Sharenting

In the contemporary digital age, the act of sharing one’s life online has become a ubiquitous phenomenon. One particular aspect that has garnered significant attention is “sharenting” – a portmanteau of “sharing” and “parenting.” This term refers to the practice where parents share content about their children on social media platforms. Social media allows parents and grandparents to share with others the experience of the youngsters gracing their lives.

While parenting is full of demands and difficulties, it is also full of joys. Watching young children develop is one of the most fascinating experiences of humanity. Young children with their behaviors and words make us smile. From infancy to adulthood, life unfolds in a series of new developments. It is natural to share these many milestones of development with others.

While sharenting can create a sense of community and connection among parents, it also raises critical psychological questions about privacy, consent, and the potential long-term effects on children.

The Rise of Sharenting

The advent of social media has revolutionized the way individuals interact and communicate. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok provide spaces where parents can showcase the milestones and daily moments of their children’s lives. This visibility can be gratifying for parents, allowing them to receive validation and support from their social networks. According to a survey by the University of Michigan, over 75% of parents admit to sharing photos, anecdotes, and updates about their children online.

The term “sharenting” is attributed to Steven Leckart, coined in a 2012 Wall Street Journal article on the practice (Leckart, 2012). Since Lockhart’s introduction to sharenting, several social researchers and journals have examined the motivations and impact of parents sharing photos, videos, and stories of their children’s lives on social media platforms.

Psychological Motivations Behind Sharenting

Several psychological factors drive the behavior of sharenting. One primary motivation is the desire for social validation. Parents often share content to receive positive feedback and approval from peers, which can enhance their self-esteem and reinforce their parenting decisions. Some theorist propose that sharenting helps justify the intense energy and resources invested in raising children (Wang et al., 2024). Additionally, sharenting can serve as a means of documenting and preserving memories, creating a digital scrapbook that captures the growth and development of their children. Basically, social media serves as a means to narrating our lives.

Another critical motivation is the need for social connection. Parenting can be isolating, and sharing content online allows parents to connect with others, share experiences, and receive emotional support. It fosters a sense of belonging and community, reducing feelings of loneliness and providing a platform for exchanging advice and resources.

The Impact on Children

Children quickly adopt the beginnings of an autonomous being. Each of my grandchildren express with their first collection of words “I do it.” They want to do things on their own. They naturally desire autonomy. Roy F. Baumeister, Professor of Psychology at Florida State University and at the University of Queensland in Australia, explains that “living things have various built-in needs and wants, which may be called natural motivations” (Baumeister,1992).

Margaret Mahler wrote:

“The biological birth of the human infant and the psychological birth of the individual are not coincident in time. The former is a dramatic, observable, and well-circumscribed event; the latter a slowly unfolding intrapsychic process. Like any intrapsychic process, this one reverberates throughout the life cycle. It is never finished; it remains always active; new phases of the life cycle see new derivatives of the earliest processes still at work. But the principal psychological achievements of this process take place in the period from about the fourth or fifth month to the thirtieth or thirty-sixth month” (Mahler et al., 1975).

The child begins this process in the dawning moments of life.

The early development of autonomy contributes to the child’s sense of self and wellness. Harry T. Reis and his colleagues posit that well-being depends on the satisfaction of two basic needs: competence and autonomy (Reis et al., 2000).

See Autonomy: A Success Trait for more on this topic

Children Bothered by the Same Things as Adults

One morning the local morning radio station posed a question about whether or not individuals were bothered by partners oversharing about their relationship on social media. Almost unanimously, callers despised the practice of posting details of their personal relationship on social media boards. Many felt it was an act of disloyalty.

Several years ago, after watching my three year-old grandson for a couple days, I was giving his father an update on some of the cute things he did. My grandson, who was playing on the floor, looked up and said, “talk about yourselves.” My recounting stories about him, apparently, aroused some discomfort. I was shocked that a child so young would acknowledge and dislike other talking about them.

While a three year-old child may not clearly understand why they don’t like others talking about them, they may experience some discomfort that they may or may not voice. While the motivations behind sharenting are often well-intentioned, the practice raises concerns about its impact on children. We spend a tremendous amount of time teaching children to voice their opinion, to speak up when they feel wronged, and yet we engage in practices ourselves that undermine these basic messages designed to protect them from manipulation and abuse.

Research by Gaëlle Ouvrein and Karen Verswijvel found that minors, especially adolescents, feel embarrassed and resentful about their parents’ sharenting (Ouvrein & Verswijvel, 2019).

Moreover, children may not have the autonomy to consent to the sharing of their lives online. As they grow older, they may feel embarrassed or resentful about the digital footprint created without their permission. A study by the London School of Economics found that children whose parents engaged in sharenting reported feelings of discomfort and a lack of control over their personal information (Blum-Ross & Livingstone, 2017).

Misuse of Content

Even with the best intentions, parents’ online sharing can inadvertently create vulnerabilities for their children. Predators may exploit seemingly innocent details like a child’s school name, extracurricular activities, or even the neighborhood they live in. This information can be used to gain trust, identify potential targets, and even plan real-world encounters. For example, a predator might use a child’s photo from a school event to initiate contact, pretending to be a classmate or parent, and gradually groom the child for exploitation.  

Furthermore, the digital footprint created by excessive sharing can have long-term consequences. Predators may use this information to blackmail or harass children as they grow older. Shared photos and videos can be easily manipulated and misused, potentially leading to cyberbullying, online harassment, or even the creation of child sexual abuse material.

Not All Sharing is Bad

Children, like adults, enjoy attention. This may include the sharing of pictures. We have a digital picture frame in our home that my children regularly remotely upload photos of the grandchildren to. The picture frame is almost always on. The grandchildren love it. They pull up a chair and watch with glee the streaming photos of themselves cross the screen. Of course, if they object to a particular photo of themselves, we honor their feelings and delete it from the device.

Long-term Psychological Effects

The long-term psychological effects of sharenting are still being explored, but experts suggest that it may influence children’s self-perception and social dynamics. Children growing up in an environment where their lives are constantly shared may develop a heightened sense of self-consciousness and pressure to perform for an online audience. This phenomenon, known as the “performance of self,” can impact their self-esteem and mental health.

Şule Betül Tosuntaş and Mark D. Griffith explain from their mega examination of sharenting literature that:

“Children may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable with the information their parents share about them online, which can have negative consequences for their self-esteem and relationships. The consequences of sharenting are complex and multifaceted. For example, sharenting may have an impact on children’s sense of privacy and autonomy, as well as their ability to control their digital identities. Sharenting may also have an impact on how children perceive themselves, their families, and their relationships with others. Furthermore, sharenting may have an impact on a child’s sense of self and identity, as well as their ability to navigate the online world” (Tosuntaş & Griffith, 2024).

Additionally, the constant exposure to curated and idealized representations of family life on social media can create unrealistic expectations and comparisons. Children may internalize these comparisons, leading to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. It is crucial for parents to be mindful of the content they share and consider the potential long-term implications on their children’s psychological well-being.

Balancing Sharenting and Privacy

While the digital age has made sharenting a prevalent practice, it is essential for parents to strike a balance between sharing and preserving their children’s privacy. Individuals should take inventory of their sharing activities, examining whether their sharing practices are about fulfilling needs while being careless about their child’s present and future needs.

Here are some guidelines to consider:

• Seek Consent: As children grow older, involve them in the decision-making process about what content is shared. Respect their wishes and boundaries.
• Limit Audience: Adjust privacy settings on social media platforms to restrict the audience to trusted friends and family members.
• Be Mindful of Content: Avoid sharing sensitive or potentially embarrassing information about your children. Consider how the content may be perceived in the future.
• Educate and Empower: Teach children about digital literacy and the importance of protecting their privacy online. Encourage open discussions about their feelings regarding sharenting.

Associated Concepts

• Invalidating Environments: These environments have a detrimental impact on emotional well-being, especially for children. Such environments fail to acknowledge or validate emotions, leading to a lack of support and understanding.
• Betrayal of Trust: This refers to the violation of trust or commitment. This can manifest in various forms, such as infidelity, dishonesty, or disloyalty, and often results in a sense of hurt, disappointment, or disillusionment for the betrayed individual.
• Erickson’s Psychosocial Development Stages: This theory theory that outlines eight distinct stages of psychosocial development, each characterized by a unique crisis or conflict. Successful resolution of these crises leads to healthy personality development.
• Separation-Individualization Theory: This theory proposed by Margaret Mahler, describes the process through which a child develops a sense of individual identity and separates from their primary caregivers. According to the theory, children go through different stages of development, gradually becoming more autonomous and independent while establishing a separate sense of self from their caregivers.
• Psychosexual Stages of Development: This refers to the five stages of personality development proposed by Sigmund Freud: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
• Enriched Environments: This refers to a stimulating and intellectually engaging setting that provides a wide range of experiences for an individual, particularly during critical periods of development.
• Emotional Investment in Social Media: This refers to excessive investment into interactions and responses on social media platforms. Consequently, this over-investment can have a negative impact on wellbeing.

A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic

In conclusion, sharenting presents a complex dilemma for parents navigating the digital age. While sharing their children’s joys and milestones can foster community, provide validation, and create cherished memories, it is crucial to approach this practice with mindfulness and prioritize the child’s well-being. Over-sharing can inadvertently compromise a child’s privacy, erode their sense of autonomy, and potentially impact their self-esteem and digital identity. Furthermore, the constant online portrayal of children can inadvertently pressure them to conform to certain expectations and may hinder their natural development and exploration. Therefore, it is imperative for parents to strike a balance between sharing their experiences and respecting their children’s privacy and right to control their own online presence.

Ultimately, open and honest communication with children about online privacy and digital citizenship is paramount. As children grow older, they should be involved in discussions about which aspects of their lives they feel comfortable sharing online. Moreover, parents can empower their children by teaching them about digital safety, online etiquette, and the importance of protecting their personal information. By fostering a dialogue about these issues and cultivating a respectful and mindful approach to online sharing, parents can navigate the complexities of sharenting while ensuring their children’s well-being and protecting their right to a safe and fulfilling digital experience.

Last Update: October 6, 2025