By now, you would think most parents know better than to share photos of their kids online, along with their kids’ names, activity details, and where they live. I mean, you’d think. But the truth is, plenty of influencer parents still unabashedly post photos and videos starring their kids, despite the clear dangers of sharing personal information about your children online.
And when Ireland’s Data Protection Commission created the Pause Before You Post campaign and shared a video showing a real-life representation of what happens when you overshare about your children online, parents lost it. The video was shared in a Reddit post, and parents were shocked to see what can happen when you share too much about your kids with strangers on social media.
A viral video shows how dangerous it is for kids online.
In the video, parents walk through a crowded mall with their daughter. As they pass by a man who is clearly a stranger, he says hi to the little girl and addresses her by name. When the mom asks if the daughter, Ava, knows the man, she shakes her head. Then, a woman walking by wishes Ava a happy birthday. Another person, clearly another stranger to the family, mentions knowing the little girl’s soccer schedule.
The video warns, “Every time you share their life online, you risk sharing their personal data with the world. Pause before you post.”
The message of not sharing personal information and photos of your children on social media is clear. While some parents still don’t quite see the danger, others, who commented on the Reddit post, see the clear harm in sharing too much and too often on social media, especially when it comes to children who can’t stop it themselves.
Parents agree that the reality of social media is horrifying for kids.
In the Reddit thread about the video about sharing your kids’ photos and information online, parents and adults who aren’t even parents discussed the fear that not enough parents and influencers have.
“Im very impressed with this clip every time I see it. Unfortunately I don’t think most influencers care,” one Redditor wrote in the thread.
Another commented, “I think most influencers would actually be excited that strangers recognized their children.”
Someone also pointed out, “It’s not just influencers, average people are plastering social media with their kids’ lives. I hate human beings so much.”
“I think this is an important message for regular parents as well,” a user added. “Does that guy that you met at a party 15 years ago need to know all about your children’s lives via your Facebook or Instagram account? I think everyone needs to think more about the info they release about their children. I shouldn’t know about the medical issues of the children of mild acquaintances that I’ve never met in person.”
“God, that’s unnerving and so f–king relevant,” another person wrote in the thread.
Influencers with kids still share photos and videos of them.
@sarahklait So thankful for mckinsleigh & wesleigh’s hard work!! 🤑 #pov #influencer #povinfluencer #influencerpov #familyvloggers #familychannel #badparenting #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Sarah Klait
Plenty of parents share too much on their public social media accounts. Even those with private accounts still share so many intimate details with followers, many of whom they haven’t spoken to or seen in years. That’s one part of the problem.
Another issue is influencer parents in general. They continuously share photos about first days of school, milestones, and family trips. It doesn’t take much for someone even mildly experienced in social media to find out other personal information about these influencer parents and their children.
Even if the PSA is a scare tactic, it does seem to be one that some parents, primarily influencer and content creator parents, need to listen to closely.
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