Signal Spring 2020 Newsletter

14 www.alliancecom.net Sharing About Yourself is Different Sharing stories and photos of ourselves online is one of the easiest ways we have to stay connected. As lives change and evolve, posting about it on Facebook or Instagram is often the most efficient way to keep friends and family in the loop. Sharing information about our own lives is one thing, but sharing details about someone else’s life—say, a child’s—is quite another. The term “sharenting” refers to the phenomenon of parents over-sharing information about their kids in their social media channels—posting endless updates, photos, and videos of their day-to-day activities and personal milestones. Often tied to the concept of “too much information,” sharenting can be more than a merely annoying habit. Though done with the best of intentions, putting so much private information about indi- vidual children into the public domain may have unintended consequences. Data is Currency In this digital age, issues of data privacy and online surveillance have become increasingly important. When we post something to social media, we’re not just sharing it with our friends and family. Are You Posting Too Much About Your Kids? “Sharenting” is the term used to describe parents over-sharing in their social media channels For most of us, posting on social media is nearly an everyday occurrence. For people with families, this often includes updates about what their kids are doing, complete with photos and videos of their latest antics or achievements. However, parents would be wise to pay closer attention to the information they’re sharing.