What is Sharenting?

The term sharenting is a combination of the words “share” and “parenting”, and it refers to the practice of parents sharing content about their children online.

In today’s digital age, sharing moments of our children’s lives online has become second nature. But while it may seem harmless or even joyful, sharenting comes with serious risks. Once content is uploaded to the internet, control is lost: it can be copied, saved, reshared, or misused in ways that are impossible to predict or reverse. Children’s personal information and images can remain online forever, creating a digital footprint long before they’re old enough to understand or consent.

The parents have the responsibility

…or adults in general!

First of all, no one can tell you what’s wrong or right for your family. You are the expert of your life. This website is here to provide you with insights and maybe new information for you that will help you to navigate the online security of you and your family.

Why consent is important

Experts explain that learning about consent is important!

Even though they also emphasize that children, especially small children often don’t fully understand what they’re giving consent to. The internet is often too abstract, even for adults.

However, professionals stress that open dialogue is key. Through these conversations, children learn to seek permission from others before posting something, and they also learn that their own opinion matters. These are important children's rights.

Quotes & Opinions

  • “The risk is that as soon as you upload something, be it Instagram, TikTok or WhatsApp, you give up control of the image.”

    — Child Protection Switzerland

  • “Parents should try to see the situation from the child’s perspective: If I were the child, would I be okay with this – knowing all the possible consequences?”

    — Psychologist from Switzerland

  • "Photos of children get more likes than those of adults, that’s just how it is. But we really need to ask ourselves: "What’s the purpose of posting a child on social media"?

    — Child Protection Switzerland

  • "I think in general – even when it comes to adults – I want to be asked before a photo of me is posted online.

    — Social Worker from Switzerland

  • “…there is a right to one's own image and a right to privacy, and children also fall under this.”

    — Child Protection Switzerland

  • “Always talk to your children no matter how little they are, no matter how small they are ...they might not know to say, “Oh, it's okay, or it's not okay”, but then they're learning consent, they learn something very important in data privacy, which is consent, then you need to seek their consent before sharing anything, and they also like to seek other people's consent before sharing things about those people.”

    — Data Protection Advocate from Nigeria

  • “…in the best case, the people who follow you, or the ones you follow, are those you trust, where you can say: “Okay, if they see this, it shouldn’t be a problem”.”

    — Social Worker from Switzerland

  • “Maybe it’s not always about saying yes or no, or deciding what’s right or wrong. Maybe it’s more about looking in different directions and asking: “Okay, I’m dealing with someone who likes to post pictures – so how can they still protect the child, even if they do post?”

    — Educational Scientist from Switzerland

  • “So as parents, that should also be a priority, restrict what you share, restrict who you share those things to, and just always look out for your children.”

    — Data Privacy Advocate form Nigeria

  • “I totally understand when someone feels joy and wants to share it (Pictures, Videos, Information). I really get that, and it’s a beautiful thing. At the same time, I think it also involves another living being, and not everything needs to be published. But that’s just my opinion. So for me, an alternative would be: don’t share it on the internet, and if you want to send it to someone, you could forward it only for one-time viewing.”

    — Social Worker from Switzerland

  • “Hey, absolutely — capturing beautiful moments is super important and really lovely. But the real question is: is it truly necessary to share everything? When posting on social media, who actually benefits in the end? Is it just my own ego, because I now have a child and can post about it?”

    — Child Protection Switzerland

Children’s Rights

Six important rights of the UN Convention on the right’s of the child that matter offline and online

  • Children have the right to express their opinions and be taken seriously, especially when it involves things that affect them — like sharing pictures or videos online. Their views should always be considered in a way that’s appropriate for their age.

  • Children have the right to receive information that is suitable and safe for their age. The internet should be a space where they can learn and explore without being exposed to harmful or confusing content.

  • Children have a right to privacy. That means their images, videos, and personal details should not be shared without permission. Respecting a child’s privacy helps protect their dignity and safety.

  • In all actions concerning children — including decisions about what is shared online, their best interests must come first. If something could harm a child now or in the future, it shouldn’t be shared.

  • Children must be protected from all forms of abuse, including online risks like cyberbullying, identity theft, or misuse of photos. Sharing content without care can make children vulnerable, and they have a right to be kept safe.

Adults play a key role in protecting these rights online. Children deserve to feel just as safe, respected, and heard on the internet as they do offline.