Tiara Sutari | CNN Indonesia
Thursday, 23 Jul 2026 15:45 WIB
The joyous laughter of Bintang echoes vibrantly in a video shared on Instagram. In another upload, the toddler is seen pedaling a small bicycle, occasionally posing during family vacations. This collection of photos and videos forms a digital album, readily accessible at any moment. However, this album is not stored on home shelves or family hard drives; these cherished moments live on social media platforms.
For Adyanti Putri, Bintang’s mother, this Instagram account was initially created to connect with other parents in the push-bike community, as most of them maintained their own Instagram profiles. "Initially, it was to connect with other push-bike parents, as most of them have Instagram accounts too," Adyanti shared with CNNIndonesia.com with a laugh during a recent conversation. "But as time went on, the purpose shifted to preserving important memories, like activities and vacation photos, so Bintang can look back on them when he’s older," she added.
In the digital age, the way parents document their children’s growth has undergone a dramatic transformation. While memories were once preserved in photo albums, only brought out during family gatherings, now every first step, birthday, school achievement, and funny antic can be witnessed by thousands, even millions, through a single post. It is not uncommon for parents to create dedicated social media accounts in their children’s names, sometimes from infancy. This phenomenon has come to be known as "sharenting," a portmanteau of "sharing" and "parenting," referring to the practice of parents sharing their children’s lives on social media as part of their parenting activities.
Beneath the seemingly simple intention of preserving memories, sharenting raises profound questions: To what extent do parents have the right to construct a digital identity for a child who cannot yet articulate their thoughts, let alone provide consent?
Between Memories and Concerns
For Adyanti, social media is more than just a platform for sharing stories. She views her child’s account as a space for storing memories that can be cherished together one day. Nevertheless, concerns are an inherent part of this practice. "There are definitely worries," she admitted. "Fortunately, so far, it’s been going well. I’m the only one managing the account, and all the data is linked to my personal information."
Consequently, she has established several boundaries. Followers are carefully selected one by one, and suspicious accounts are immediately blocked. She consciously avoids posting information that could reveal her child’s daily routines, such as school hours, lesson schedules, or specific locations visited in real-time. "Activities that are repetitive, like school start times, swimming lesson days, or return home times, are never posted," she stated.
Adyanti has even considered the future of the account. She believes that when Bintang reaches an age of maturity, full control of the account will be transferred to him. "If he wants to continue it later, he’s welcome to. But if he prefers it closed, then I will close it. It will be based on his comfort," she said. Adyanti’s approach likely reflects that of many contemporary parents who wish to immortalize their children’s early years while still striving to maintain privacy boundaries.
In contrast to Adyanti, Riska Rahman has adopted a nearly opposite stance. She rarely shows her child’s face on social media. This decision stems not from a desire to be different but from a conviction that the potential risks far outweigh the perceived benefits. "We are aware that sharing our child’s face and data on social media could likely be misused by others. This could range from simple things like being used as a profile picture or sticker, to cybercrimes," Riska explained.
Beyond privacy concerns, she also has religious considerations. According to her, not all happiness needs to be publicly announced. "Because we see more potential harm than good, it’s better to keep it as a personal memory or share it with close family," she stated. Even when posting family photos, Riska adheres to her own set of rules. Her child’s face is either shown from the back, the side, or obscured by an emoji. Even with close friends, she requests that her child’s face be anonymized if the photo is to be published. Riska’s primary concern remains the issue of consent. "Our child does not yet possess the knowledge or capacity to grant permission for their photos or videos to be shared publicly," she emphasized.
The Evolving Landscape of Childhood Documentation
The phenomenon of sharenting has gained significant traction globally, fueled by the ubiquity of smartphones and social media platforms. While exact figures for sharenting are difficult to quantify, studies have indicated a substantial portion of parents engage in sharing their children’s lives online. A 2023 report by the Pew Research Center found that a significant majority of parents with children under 13 share photos and videos of their children on social media. This trend is not confined to any specific demographic or geographic location, reflecting a global shift in how family life is documented and shared.
The origins of sharenting can be traced back to the early days of social media, when platforms like Facebook and MySpace allowed users to share personal updates and photos. As these platforms evolved and new ones like Instagram and TikTok emerged, the ability to share visual content became even more prominent. For parents, these platforms offered an accessible and immediate way to chronicle their children’s milestones and everyday moments.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The practice of sharenting, while often driven by love and a desire to create lasting memories, is not without its legal and ethical complexities. In many jurisdictions, children are not considered legal adults until the age of 18. This means that while parents have legal guardianship, the question of their authority to irrevocably shape a child’s digital footprint without the child’s explicit consent remains a subject of debate.
Child psychologists and digital safety experts often highlight the potential long-term implications of sharenting. These include:
- Privacy Violations: Information shared online, even with good intentions, can be accessed by unintended audiences, potentially leading to privacy breaches. This can include data that, when aggregated, reveals sensitive personal details about the child.
- Digital Footprint and Future Impact: Content shared during childhood can persist online indefinitely, potentially influencing future educational, professional, or social opportunities for the child. This is particularly relevant as employers and educational institutions increasingly scrutinize online profiles.
- Cyberbullying and Online Predators: The oversharing of children’s images and personal information can make them vulnerable to cyberbullying, online harassment, and even exploitation by individuals with malicious intent. The digital identity created by parents could inadvertently expose children to dangers they are not equipped to handle.
- Child’s Right to Self-Determination: As children grow, they may develop a desire for privacy and control over their own image and personal narrative. Parents who have extensively shared their children’s lives online may face challenges as their children assert their autonomy.
Expert Opinions and Guidance
Leading child welfare organizations and digital safety advocates consistently advise parents to exercise extreme caution when engaging in sharenting. Key recommendations often include:
- Prioritize Consent: Whenever possible, obtain the child’s verbal or, as they grow older, written consent before sharing their image or personal information.
- Limit Personal Identifiable Information (PII): Avoid sharing details that could identify the child, such as full names, addresses, school names, or specific locations.
- Consider the Audience: Understand who can see the shared content and adjust privacy settings accordingly.
- Think Long-Term: Consider how the shared content might be perceived by the child and others in the future.
- Establish Boundaries: Set clear rules for what can and cannot be shared, and respect those boundaries.
- Educate Children: As children mature, engage them in conversations about online safety and digital citizenship.
Dr. Aisha Khan, a child psychologist specializing in digital well-being, commented, "The intention behind sharenting is often rooted in love and the desire to document a child’s journey. However, it’s crucial for parents to understand that children have a right to privacy and to a digital identity that they can eventually shape themselves. A balanced approach, prioritizing the child’s well-being and future, is paramount."
The Role of Technology and Platforms
Social media platforms themselves play a role in shaping the sharenting landscape. While they provide the tools for sharing, they also have policies regarding child safety and privacy. However, the enforcement of these policies can be challenging, and the sheer volume of content uploaded daily makes comprehensive monitoring difficult. Features such as age verification and reporting mechanisms are in place, but the effectiveness of these measures in preventing misuse remains a subject of ongoing discussion and development.
Looking Ahead: A Call for Conscious Parenting
As National Children’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding children’s well-being, the practice of sharenting invites a deeper reflection. The digital realm offers unprecedented opportunities for connection and memory-keeping, but it also presents unique challenges. Parents like Adyanti and Riska represent a spectrum of approaches, each seeking to navigate this complex terrain. The ultimate goal, as articulated by experts and thoughtful parents alike, is to ensure that the digital footprints we create for our children serve to enrich their lives, rather than compromise their safety and autonomy. The conversation around sharenting is ongoing, urging a collective commitment to responsible digital parenting in an increasingly connected world.
