'Sharenting' may Put Your Kid's Safety at Risk

Parents sharing photos and news about their kids on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter might be infringing on their privacy, reveals a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing.

The researchers found evidence that women's feelings of vulnerability about being a mother are linked to their posting on social media.

‘Parents need more knowledge about the consequences of sharing their kid's personal information, and the research suggests the need for enhanced governmental guidance to protect children's online privacy from commercial entities. ’

Those posts sometimes include their children's personally identifiable information, such as names, birthdates, and photographs, showed the findings.

The women who participated in the research articulated a variety of risk factors for vulnerability - a changing body, a changing view of self, new responsibilities associated with motherhood, demands of nursing, exhaustion, and issues such as postpartum depression or anxiety.

"Posting about their experiences and sharing personal information about themselves and their children served as a coping strategy, primarily related to seeking affirmation/social support or relief from parents stress/anxiety/depression," the researchers wrote.

The research was carried out by Alexa K. Fox from the University of Akron and Mariea Grubbs Hoy from the University of Tennessee - both in the US.

The researchers suggest the need for enhanced governmental guidance to protect children's online privacy from commercial entities.

They also suggest that parents need more education about the consequences of sharing their children's personal information.

"Today's parents, many of whom grew up sharing their own lives on social media, may not comprehend the full impact and potential consequences of posting such information about their children," the researchers wrote.

Source: IANS