Privacy watchdog reminds parents not to go too far with ‘sharenting’

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data on Thursday published a pamphlet entitled “Sharenting Dos and Don’ts”, which provided some tips for parents before they publish any post about their children online.

Documenting your family and their upbringing, often known as “sharenting”, is not an especially new phenomenon. Parents engage in “sharenting” for many reasons: because they're proud of their children and want to tell family and friends about it.

The privacy watchdog chief Ada Chung Lai-ling said while “sharenting” may seem harmless at first sight, the potential impacts of over-sharing children’s daily lives online may encompass long-term consequences affecting their future education or even work prospects. 

“Communication is the key in this regard and it is important to respect children’s privacy and wishes before you share anything about them online. Do think twice before ‘sharenting’,” she added.

The Pamphlet highlights the following tips for parents.

Dos:
- Beware of the details of disclosure
- Communicate – Seek agreement
- Double check your privacy settings
- Think about the future

Don’ts:
- Don’t overlook your children’s privacy
- Don’t live for the “likes”
- Don’t overshare
- Don’t post photos of other children without permission from their parents