Sharenting – an activity practiced by a large percentage of today's parents, who may not even realize the danger it can pose to their children. It is very likely that they do not even know what the term means. In this article, we will explain what sharenting is, how it can be dangerous for children and their privacy.
The word SHARENTING was created from two English terms, namely sharing
and parenting. Together, the word describes the activity of parents sharing pictures,
videos or other data about their children on social networks. These photos or videos come
from various events, celebrations, vacations, and often show children naked or in other humorous
situations. At first glance, it seems like a nice way to show off your children. However, from another
perspective, this information can be misused and ultimately cause significant problems.
Practically anyone on the internet has access to such data, and current technology
makes it possible to use this data to create pornographic images, be misused to create
deepfake videos (you can read about what deepfakes are here), or influence a child's future or
steal their identity.
How can children's data be misused?
1. Privacy
The first step, which is the most common problem, is protecting children's privacy. Often,
images or data of children appear on the internet without consideration and can be misused. However, this
is not only a problem for adults but also for children who are unaware of the risks
involved. We will discuss the risks of the internet in the following
points, but the risk can also be physical. Sharing your current location via various
social networks can put you at risk of kidnapping or physical assault. It is
important to make children aware of the risks of sharing any information about themselves.
2. Conversion of images into pornographic/sexual images
One of the worst possible scenarios is the conversion of a child's photos into pornographic
images. Artificial intelligence today makes the process of such conversion
, and the possibilities are constantly growing. These images are then shared on the dark web or other
social networks and are often indistinguishable from real photos. All that is needed is
a sufficient database of photos. These situations result in psychological
problems for children and their parents. At the same time, it is very difficult to delete such content from the internet
, which can affect the child's future.
3. Identity theft
Identity theft refers to the theft of personal data shared on
the internet (whether by parents or children) and its subsequent misuse to create new
accounts on the internet or for other fraudulent purposes. In the long term, this can lead to
significant financial problems, as modern technology makes it possible to take out loans
online, manage finances, and various other options. Children are particularly
vulnerable in this regard, as they often do not behave as cautiously on the internet.
4. Online bullying
This problem has been around for almost as long as the internet itself.
In this regard, the main problem is the sharing of photos, which can be
a tool for such bullying, or cyberbullying as it is otherwise known. This type of bullying has
very serious consequences for a person's mental well-being and can lead to depression
or even suicide.
5. Deepfake technology
You can read about deepfake videos and the threats associated with them in our
previous article. In connection with children and their photos or videos,
deepfake technology can easily edit a photo or video into a completely different form.
The situation in which they appear, the words they say, and the actions they take are changed, but
the face and voice of the person remain the same. A deepfake (video or photo) prepared in this way is
then shared on the internet and presents the person in a situation in which they have never
. Whether in a mocking, vulgar, revealing manner, or committing a
crime or otherwise harming the environment or people. The possibilities are constantly
expanding. This can have psychological, financial, or social consequences for the person,
as these technologies are so sophisticated that it is difficult to distinguish deepfakes from
reality.
6. Digital footprint
The last risk we will mention today is the creation of a so-called digital
footprint. A digital footprint is a set of data and information that we leave behind on the internet.
This includes not only the data we share ourselves, but also where we leave
comments, what websites we visit, and what games we play. This footprint is impossible to delete
or control. Virtually anyone can access it, including family, future employers,
school, and even someone with malicious intent. All of this data can be misused in the
ways mentioned above.
Many parents are unaware of what posting a simple photo on the
internet can cause and how much damage a single photo can do. Here are some statistics on
sharing photos on social networks. Based on the results of studies in England, it was found
that the average child under the age of 5 has up to 1,500 photos on social networks. Further research
in Poland revealed that of all the photos that parents post on social networks, up to 75%
are photos of children under the age of 8. At the same time, less than 8% of parents have set up privacy settings.
Less than 68% said they had shared a photo they considered inappropriate, and as many as
78% had shared a photo in which a child was naked or semi-naked. It is precisely this type of photo that
risky when it comes to creating pornographic content.
Modern technology has brought us great progress in recent years, but with it come
risks. It is essential to exercise caution when it comes to protecting personal data, whether your own or that of your children.
That is why we are providing you with some tips to follow when
publishing photos or videos of children on social networks:
- refrain from publishing photos and videos that show the child's personal information (name, address, date of birth, etc.)
- inform other family members and be aware of the school's policy on publishing photos
- do not use hashtags such as #nahedieta, #kupanie and similar, as this allows pedophiles and other deviants to access the photos and abuse them, especially if you do not have privacy settings on your profile check your privacy settings every time you post photos
- try to choose photos that are not too detailed or are taken from a distance
- consider the consequences of each photo, whether it could cause your child to be bullied or ridiculed, whether your child is in a compromising situation, or whether they are naked
Sources:
https://www.nominet.uk/parents-oversharing-family-photos-online-lack-basic-privacy-know/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299601525_When_the_Child_is_Born_into_the_Int
ernet_Sharenting_as_a_Growing_Trend_among_Parents_on_Facebook
