Oversharing children online risks their privacy and safety

Parents often share photos and stories of their children on social media, a practice known as "sharenting." While this can be innocent, it may also have serious risks. Oversharing can expose children to online predators and identity theft, especially when parents profit from their accounts as influencers. Stacey Steinberg, a law professor at the University of Florida, highlights these dangers. She points out that children have little protection when their parents share information online. Although laws exist to protect children from physical harm, few address the risks of oversharing on social media. For instance, imagine a fictional girl named Mia. Her mother, a stay-at-home parent and influencer, shares photos of Mia modeling lingerie on her public Instagram account. While the mother aims for engagement and profit, the images attract a concerning audience, including many grown men. When Mia shares her worries with her teacher, the teacher reports the situation to child services. However, the report is dismissed because the posts fall into a gray area, viewed as parental rights rather than abuse. This raises the question of whether new laws are needed to protect children in online spaces. Steinberg argues that just as society evolved on issues of child abuse, it must address sharenting. She believes new laws could help protect children's online privacy while respecting parental autonomy. Proper legal frameworks could ensure that children's rights are safeguarded, preventing harmful use of their images and stories online.