Southampton: Posting children’s photos online—commonly referred to as “sharenting”—may increase their risk of cyberbullying, harassment, and even identity theft in later life, new research from the University of Southampton has revealed.
Risks behind sharenting
Sharenting, where parents document their child’s milestones on social media, has become widespread across households. However, researchers caution that the practice can leave children vulnerable to long-term harm.
Lead researcher Pamela Ugwudike explained, “By proudly sharing photos and information about children on social media, parents are unwittingly putting them at risk of harm, both online such as cyberbullying, and in the real world – not just now, but also years down the line.”
The study found that 45% of surveyed parents actively post photos of their children online. Alarmingly, one in six reported their child had already faced some form of online harm linked to these posts.
How sharing online can backfire
Experts warn that images and captions may inadvertently reveal sensitive information such as birthdays, addresses, or pet names—details commonly used in passwords or security questions. This creates potential vulnerabilities for identity fraud later in life.
“Sharing photos or videos of children at scale across the online world can put their safety, privacy and wellbeing at risk,” said Rani Govender, child safety online policy manager at NSPCC.
Researchers noted that parents often overestimate how secure social media privacy settings really are. Features like tagging or resharing can override privacy barriers, pushing content into unintended networks.
When privacy settings fall short
In interviews, parents admitted to being unaware of how easily posts marked as ‘private’ could still spread. According to Govender, “This research shows parents overestimate the protection offered by privacy settings. Features like tagging and resharing can bypass these protections.”
This lack of awareness is not limited to parents. Schools, relatives, and even carers also share images, adding to the exposure of children’s identities online.
AI-powered risks on the rise
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) highlighted a growing and more disturbing threat. Criminals are reportedly exploiting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate explicit imagery from innocent childhood photos.
“We have seen criminals in the darkest parts of the internet boasting that they can use AI image generators to create life-like nude and sexual imagery of any child they like with only a handful of normal, non-sexual images,” warned Kerry Smith, IWF head.
She added that these AI-generated images are now so realistic that they are almost indistinguishable from genuine ones, raising risks of sexual extortion and blackmail.
A long-term concern
Sharenting has long been debated as a potential breach of a child’s right to privacy. In 2019, the issue made headlines when actress Gwyneth Paltrow posted a picture with her daughter Apple on Instagram, sparking criticism after Apple said she had not given consent.
Researchers now stress that the consequences extend far beyond childhood. Years later, photos and personal details shared online may resurface, impacting young adults in ways their parents never intended.
Conclusion
The study concludes that while parents may see online sharing as a way of celebrating milestones, they must balance this with potential risks. Experts urge families to rethink how and where they share children’s images, check privacy settings thoroughly, and remain aware of evolving digital threats.
As Ugwudike summarised, “Sharenting poses a real and present danger. Parents must take steps now to protect their children’s futures, both online and offline.”