Got Kids? Think Before You Post.

"Sharenting"—the practice of parents sharing their children's lives on social media—creates permanent digital footprints that can compromise a child's future privacy and autonomy. Once posted, content becomes vulnerable to data harvesting for facial recognition, AI training, and potential exploitation by third parties. Parents often lose control over these images, which can later impact a child's opportunities in areas like employment or insurance. While sharing can build community for parents of children with special needs, it requires rigorous privacy measures, such as using encrypted messaging apps or avoiding public platforms entirely. Establishing "rules of the road" for digital citizenship, including discussing privacy with family and peers, helps mitigate these risks. Ultimately, parents must balance the desire for connection with the responsibility of protecting a child's right to define their own digital identity.