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Proud parents often post proud photos of their littles' firsts and accomplishments.

This phenomenon, sharenting, puts young people at risk even when our intentions are good.

We should think before we share family photos with the world.

It’s your little one’s first day of kindergarten and he’s adorable, wearing a new backpack with his hair combed perfectly. Who wouldn’t take a picture on this big day? Many proud parents post such photos on Facebook or Instagram with captions like, “My baby’s first day of school! I cannot believe how quickly he is growing!”

The photograph is innocent and, yes, totally adorable. Behind the post is one proud mama or dad. Friends and family respond with hearts, congratulations, and comments about how much the child has grown and how cute they look on their big day.

So, what could possibly be wrong with sharing it?

But perhaps quite a lot.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now specifically cautions parents about the risks associated with publicly sharing children's photographs and videos, including unwanted contact and exposure to predators. The practice has become so common that it has its own name: sharenting, or the sharing of photos, personal information, and experiences online by caregivers, parents, even grandparents. It is now a routine part of parenting in a digital culture. And, like many other things widely available on the internet, researchers are beginning to document some of the risks.

The problem is not that parents love their children too much or that sharing photos is inherently dangerous. The problem is, we now live in a digital environment and a seemingly innocent photo can reach people we never intended to, reveal more information than we realize, and remain available long after we have forgotten we posted it.

Asking “Is this a cute picture?” is not enough

Parents should ask themselves before posting an image: “What am I telling the world about someone I need to protect?”

That first-day-of-school photo offers more than one piece of information. Let’s........

© Psychology Today