Parents’ Sharenting Behaviors and Risk Perceptions: A Comparative Study of Mothers and Fathers

Abstract

Objectives: The act of parents sharing their children’s digital materials on social media, known as “sharenting,” has become increasingly common. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the shared parenting behaviors and risk perceptions of mothers and fathers and to assess the relationship between them. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with 320 parents of children aged 0-12 years who were admitted to the department of general pediatrics. Parents completed a questionnaire prepared by child and adolescent psychiatrists. Data on parents’ social media usage, sharing behaviors, and risk perceptions were collected through the questionnaire. Results: The findings revealed that 92% of parents had active Instagram/Facebook accounts, and approximately 70% shared their child’s posts on these platforms. Most parents primarily shared photos of their children during special occasions to create a digital memory record. However, concerning trends were identified, including 19% of parents sharing the name/location information and 8.7% posting semi-nude photos of their child. 66% of parents believed that obtaining their child’s permission before sharing was necessary; nearly half (49.8%) perceived sharenting as potentially risky. Notably, parents who did not consider sharenting risky were more likely to share semi-nude photos of their child. Differences between parents were observed, with mothers being more inclined to share their children’s content (p=0.003) while fathers were more likely to have public accounts (p=0.000) and share semi-nude photos (p=0.007). Moreover, fathers exhibited significantly lower risk perceptions associated with sharenting compared to mothers (p=0.029). Conclusion: These findings suggest that while sharenting has become an integral part of daily life for many parents, there is still a need for greater awareness regarding online privacy and the potential long-term consequences for children. Cultural norms, digital literacy, and parenting styles may all influence how parents approach sharenting. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of raising parents’ awareness of the potential risks associated with sharenting.