Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA
“Sharenting” is more common than ever. Discover why parents share posts about their kids online, the risks involved, and 7 tips for safer, more mindful posting.
Your kid loses their first tooth or says something hilarious at dinner, and your thumb is already halfway to the share button. For a lot of parents and caregivers, posting these moments feels like second nature.
Believe it or not, there's actually a name for this habit: sharenting. And while it’s often a simple way to stay connected, it also puts your child’s story online before they can choose to share it. If you’ve started to wonder about the risks, it’s a good time to take stock of your posting habits.
Here's a look at why parents share and what’s worth knowing about the risks, plus seven small shifts to help you post with confidence.
What is sharenting?
Sharenting is when parents or caregivers post about their kids on social media. It could be a single birthday photo, or years of posts documenting a whole childhood. Think videos, funny quotes, school updates, potty-training wins, and even ultrasound pictures from before the baby arrives.
It's also widespread. Research reviews estimate that about three in four parents share photos, stories, or videos of their kids online, and most use their children's real names.
Parents have always shared news about their kids through holiday letters, birth announcements, and photos mailed to relatives. Social media just made the audience much bigger, the posts more public, and the record harder to remove.
Why do parents share their kids’ lives online?
Most sharenting comes from a good place. You're proud of your kid and you want the people in your life to know. Studies on parents who post about their kids point to the same reasons:
Staying close: Photos and videos let faraway family and friends watch your child grow.
Celebrating and remembering: Posts mark your child’s milestones and give you something to scroll back through later.
Finding community: Other parents and caregivers can offer advice and a “me too” at 2am, when parenting feels isolating.
Feeling seen: A kind comment on a rough day reminds you that you’re doing okay.
💙 Feeling alone as a parent? Here’s how to deal with loneliness.
What are the risks of sharenting on social media?
Sharing your kids online isn’t necessarily harmful. Still, a few risks are worth knowing about:
A lasting digital footprint. Screenshots, reshares, and archives mean a photo can outlast the original post. Many kids have years of photos online before they're old enough to understand who can see them.
Privacy and consent. Young kids can't weigh in on what you post about them. Their public image takes shape long before they can agree to it, and that can be hard to undo later.
Personal information. Someone could piece together a full name, birth date, hometown, and school from a handful of posts. Over time, details like these may be misused for identity theft.
Location and background details. Location tags and details like a house number, school logo, or regular park in the background show where your child spends their time. On a public account, that can make their routine visible to strangers.
Facial recognition and AI. Photos on public accounts may be saved, scanned, or collected by AI tools and facial recognition software. Some of those tools turn ordinary photos into fake images.
💙 Want to bring more intention to parenting, online and off? Start here.
How to practice mindful sharenting: 7 tips to balance safety and connection
You don't have to log off to keep your kid safe. A few small shifts protect their privacy and still let you share the moments you love. Start with one or two of these, whatever feels most doable, then add more as they become habit.
1. Take a mindful pause before you post
Before you hit share, take a breath and think about whether you want to post this moment. If you do, scan the photo and caption for anything that gives away too much, like a full name or a street sign.
For some structure, a short breathing exercise or meditation can help.
💙 Listen to Pause to Breathe with Prof. Megan Reitz on Calm.
2. Verify your privacy settings
A couple of settings are worth checking before your next post. If your account is public, anyone can find and save your posts. Photos taken on your phone may also include the location where you took them.
Try:
Switch to a private account and remove followers you don’t know.
Review your tagging settings.
Turn off geotagging in your camera and app settings.
Platforms can change their defaults without warning, so it’s worth redoing this check every couple of months.
3. Leave out identifying details
You can share the moment without giving away your child’s identity. Skip birth dates, school names, and daily routines. Use a nickname or first initial instead of your child’s full name.
Posting a day or two later makes it harder for anyone to know where your child is in real time.
4. Ask your child for their opinion
Once your child is old enough to weigh in, show them the post and ask if they're okay with you sharing it. This shows them that their opinion matters. If your child is too young to decide, the next tip can help you decide for them.
5. Picture your child as an adult
Imagine your child at 25, seeing what you’re about to post. Does it give away something private about them, such as a health issue or a hard time at school? What seems relatable now may feel too personal to them later.
If you're unsure, keep the more personal moments in a private family group or an offline album.
💙 Explore Shift Your Perspective with Jay Shetty on Calm.
6. Review your past posts
Your past posts felt right at the time, and it’s okay if some show more than you’d share today. Scroll back through your posts for details like full names, school names, or locations.
Delete the post, archive it, or move it to a private album if it feels too revealing.
7. Talk with family about boundaries
You're not the only one with a camera. Grandparents, co-parents, babysitters, and friends may post photos of your child too, usually out of love and pride. A conversation up front about family boundaries keeps everyone on the same page.
You might ask family to:
leave full names and birth dates out of captions
skip location tags and recognizable landmarks in the background
use private groups or shared albums instead of public posts
check with you before posting anything
💙 Calm’s Kind Communication session can help you find the words for a warm, open conversation.
Sharenting FAQs
What is the meaning of sharenting?
Sharenting means posting about your child on social media, and the word blends "sharing" and "parenting." It covers anything from baby photos to regular updates as they grow up.
What are some common sharenting examples?
Common sharenting examples include ultrasound pictures, birthday posts, funny quotes, and health or milestone updates. Even a photo that seems harmless can reveal more than you intended, like a club sign or a team jersey in the background.
Why do parents share posts about their kids online so often?
Many parents share to stay connected and celebrate their kids. Sharenting keeps faraway family members in the loop and connects you with other parents who get it. During hard stretches, it can help you feel less alone.
What are the biggest risks of sharenting on social media?
The main risks of sharenting include a lasting digital footprint and exposed personal details. Photos can be saved, reshared, or collected by AI tools, which is why child safety groups encourage private accounts.
That said, many posts don’t lead to harm, and small habits like turning off location tags help lower the risks further.
How does sharenting affect children’s privacy and safety?
Sharenting shapes your child’s public image before they’re old enough to agree to it. Names, schools, and tagged locations can also reveal their routines to strangers, and a handful of details may be used for identity theft.
If you keep personal moments offline now, your child has more room to shape their own image as they grow.
At what age should kids have a say in social media posts?
There's no set age for when kids should have a say in what you post. Young kids may not fully understand what sharing means, so the decision starts with you. You can start asking as soon as they’re able to weigh in, and give their yes or no more weight as they grow.
How can I practice responsible sharenting on social media?
You can practice responsible sharenting with a mindful pause before you post. From there, check your privacy settings, and leave out personal details including names, schools, and locations. Ask for your child’s input once they’re old enough, and let family members know your boundaries.
Calm your mind. Change your life.
Mental health is hard. Getting support doesn't have to be. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.
Images: Getty
