What Half of Parents Are Doing That May Embarrass Their Kids

A social media expert says it’s OK to post pictures and updates of kids on topics you’d discuss around the water cooler at the office, but there are limits. (Photo by Clappstar via Flickr/Creative Commons.)

--
By Beth Dalbey (Patch Staff):

You’re familiar with them as you scroll your social media newsfeed – parents who post pictures of their child’s every milestone or achievement – but there may be more of them than you think.

A University of Michigan polls showed the majority of U.S. parents know at least one mom or dad who is guilty of what is called “oversharenting” – sharing embarrassing pictures and other information online, the Detroit Free Press reports.

They do it for a variety of reasons.

“The biggest thing is feeling like you’re not alone – whether it’s 2 o’clock in the morning and (you’re wondering) ‘Who else is up?’ or it’s ‘My kid won’t eat anything that’s orange,’ and ‘My kid has a weird rash,’ “ said Sarah Clark, associate director of the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health and a research scientist at U-M’s Department of Pediatrics.

Among the key findings,

• More half of mothers and one-third of fathers discuss parenting on social media.
• Parents say social media is most useful for making them feel they are not alone (72 percent).
• Three-quarters of parents point to “oversharenting” by another parent

The poll also revealed privacy concerns related to posts that show bare-bottomed babies, diapered babies and babies in bathtubs, for example. Half of those surveyed worry that children will be embarrassed by the pictures of their adorable moments later.

Sixty-eight percent of parents said worry about their child’s privacy, and 67 percent worry someone will re-share their child’s photos. More than half worry their children will be embarrassed.

Also on Patch:

• 50 Texting/Sexting Terms Your Kids Don’t Want You to Know
• Teen’s Nude Selfie Sets Off 5-Year Nightmare
• Hundreds of Nude Photos Bomb Teen with New Smartphone

Already, there are nefarious Facebook pages to bash ugly babies, including one that drew comments such as “ It’s hideous” and “You can absolutely not fix ugly.”

Even pictures that would seem to be met with a wave of positivity, like the one of theinfant cradled in an American flag, can set off a firestorm of angry criticism that will become part of the child’s legacy.

“Parents have the responsibility to be thoughtful about what kind of online identity or legacy they’re creating for their kid before they get to the age when they’re creating their own,” Clark said.

A professor of social work at Wayne State University said she occasionally posts a picture of her young child, but adjusts the privacy settings on her Facebook page so its only visible to a limited number of friends and family.

“I think he should have ownership of his identity,” Poco Kernsmith said.

Social media consultant Christopher Barger suggested putting the question to the water cooler work test before posting. If the post is about what to do about a strange rash, post away, Barger said.

But if your son is downloading pornography?

That’s a classic example of oversharenting.