218. Why Do Parents Overshare on Social Media?
No Stupid Questions
Deep Dive
What is 'sharenting' and how common is it?
Sharenting refers to parents sharing photos and stories of their children on social media. Many parents create Instagram accounts for their minor children to document their lives, similar to how people create accounts for their pets.
What are the potential dangers of sharenting for children?
Sharenting can expose children to privacy breaches, identity fraud, and exploitation. For example, Barclays estimates that by 2030, two-thirds of identity fraud cases among young people will be linked to oversharing by parents.
What legal protections exist for children's online privacy?
In Europe, the 'right to be forgotten' allows citizens to petition for past information to be removed from search results. France has strict privacy laws allowing children to sue parents for sharing intimate details without consent. The U.S. lacks similar protections.
Why do parents overshare about their children on social media?
Parents may overshare due to a mix of motives, including pride in their parenting, social connection, and an evolutionary drive to disclose information. This instinct is rooted in ancient survival mechanisms but is now exploited by modern social media.
How does social media exploit our evolutionary instincts?
Social media taps into our ancient drive to disclose information, which was crucial for survival. However, in the modern world, this instinct can lead to oversharing, fraud, and privacy breaches, as the immediate reward of sharing conflicts with long-term risks.
What are the career aspirations of preteens and Gen Z regarding social media?
One in three preteens and over half of Gen Z individuals aspire to be influencers. Child influencers can earn six-figure incomes by promoting brands on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Does Angela Duckworth regret sharing stories about her children on the podcast?
Angela has occasionally felt a twinge of anxiety about sharing personal stories about her daughters, especially in her book 'Grit.' She acknowledges the importance of considering the long-term impact of sharing personal information about children.
What example does Angela give of a child who was affected by oversharing?
A woman wrote about her daughter, who, at 13 or 14, Googled herself and found extensive posts and photos her mother had shared. The daughter felt her life had been ruined by the oversharing, highlighting the potential emotional impact on children.
How does Taylor Swift's approach to sharing differ from typical sharenting?
Taylor Swift chose to share a montage of home videos with her mother when she was a teenager, showcasing her own decision-making process. This contrasts with parents who share their children's lives without their consent, emphasizing the importance of allowing children to control their own narratives.
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