“Sharenting” social media posts put children at risk, study warns
Sharing children’s photos online could expose them to identity theft, cyberbullying and even fraud later in life, according to new research from the University of Southampton.
The practice, known as “sharenting,” has become a routine way for parents to document significant events in their children’s lives, such as birthdays, holidays, and important milestones.
But academics say the trend carries hidden dangers, with images and personal details leaving children vulnerable both now and in years to come.
Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 UK parents and found nearly half post photos of their children on social media.
One in six said their child had already suffered some form of harm as a result.
The risks include strangers accessing information such as birth dates or addresses, which can later be used to commit identity fraud.
Pamela Ugwudike, who led the study, said parents are “unwittingly putting children at risk” by sharing so much personal information.
She added: “Harms can extend beyond the online world.”
Child protection groups have also backed the findings.
Rani Govender of the NSPCC said privacy settings give parents a “false sense of security,” since tagging and resharing can quickly spread content beyond its intended audience.
The Internet Watch Foundation also raised concerns over criminals exploiting AI tools to create fake sexual images from innocent photos.
“We’ve seen offenders boast that only a handful of pictures are enough,” said the IWF’s Kerry Smith, warning of risks including blackmail and sexual extortion.
Campaigners are now urging parents to rethink how much of their children’s lives they share online to mitigate the risks.