Children’s privacy on social media is becoming a growing concern for parents in the digital age. Those cute photos of a toddler covered in spaghetti sauce or wandering around in nothing but a diaper used to stay tucked away in family photo albums or old VHS tapes. But today, those moments are often shared online for the world to see.
Many children have lived their entire lives on social media—from the first pregnancy announcement to ultrasound images, gender-reveal videos, and proud newborn photos. As they grow, every milestone is often captured: first bites of solid food, first steps, first day of school. Family vacations, sports, and holiday celebrations all appear online. For many parents, it’s a joyful way to stay connected with relatives and friends.
But experts say that sharing those joyful moments can also expose families to unexpected risks.
“I like to always focus on positive things, but there are negative things attached to social media,” said Eileen Cherbini, clinical coordinator of Florida Gulf Coast University’s department of counseling and a former school counselor for 18 years. Social media is a wonderful tool for staying in touch, but it requires responsibility, Cherbini said.
“You need to be cautious of what you share,” she said. “Not everybody has good intentions. The children are not part of the decision making. Our generation was given this incredible tool, but there needs to be guidance. We need to be aware of the consequences of what we post.”
Think before you post
She advises posting vacation photos after returning home so no one knows your house is empty. She advises parents to constantly check security settings because they can change during a phone update.
“Parents should not be posting anything that is private,” Cherbini stressed. For example, never post pictures of kids in the bathroom. “Think about the privacy of the child. If you are questioning what you are posting, don’t post it.”
Cherbini also advises college students to think before posting. “At FGCU we tell students you are going to be looked at online for employment, so be really aware before you post.”
Ariella VanHara, a licensed clinical social worker with FGCU, also agrees that social media can offer both benefits and risks.
VanHara noted that social media is a way for people of all ages to connect socially and build community. She sees nothing wrong with celebrating a child’s achievements online, but parents need to understand the risks.
“Nothing on the Internet is actually private,” she said. For example, “there are emojis to cover up private parts, but there are ways to erase emojis. And as the child grows up, those posts may resurface.”
She added that even seemingly harmless posts can cause embarrassment or harm later.
“Families might record their child having a temper tantrum,” VanHara said. “Is that fair to the child? Once you put it out there, you can’t control what people say. Be mindful of what is acceptable to share.”
Many parents in Southwest Florida said they are cautious about what they post.
“I post my children’s accomplishments as well as gatherings with friends to tag their parents as well because they would also appreciate the photos,” said Lauren Osborne. “I also post photos of us attending events around town and tag the organizers. What I don’t post is emotional vulnerability or anything that has to do with discipline.”
Tessa Morris said she became even more careful after hearing that photos of children in swimsuits had been stolen and reposted on porn sites. She now avoids posting anything of her daughter in gymnastics attire and mostly shares short-term content.
“I post more on “my stories” because they disappear after 24 hours,” she said. “I go through the posts, and if I see someone I don’t know I block and report them.”
When sharing becomes risky
Lt. Wade Williams, who works with INTERCEPT and the Victim Service Bureau of the Collier County Sheriff’s Department, said posting anything publicly online can be dangerous. He says it is not as easy as simply avoiding a photo with a child’s name, sports team, or school.
“Any public posts containing photographs of a child can be, and often are, exploited,” Williams explained.
“I would not recommend posting your children’s photos publicly at all. Sending them to known friends on social media or posting where only your known family and friends can see them is fine.”
Williams said predators use small clues to identify families and children.
From just one social media account, “it is extremely easy to figure out where someone works, lives, or goes to school. These offenders are very motivated. If they come across a kid they like, they will take deliberate actions to get more information, to see if they can contact the child or befriend the mom online.”
Williams says AI has made the risks ever greater.
“We have seen a huge increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse material,” Williams said. “Offenders are taking innocent pictures from social media using them to create ultra-realistic images.”
Child advocates are also raising alarms about “kidfluencers” – children featured in family blogs and vlogs whose daily lives are broadcast online, and essentially live on a permanent TV or movie set.
Predators talk online about ‘Instamoms’ – mothers who post a lot about their kids, according to Wiliams. They pay close attention to those accounts of bloggers and vloggers. These advocates stress that it is important for parents to respect their children’s privacy and digital footprint. There are reasons to be concerned about these vloggers and influencers that turn their homes into reality shows as a way to make money.
Pushing for protections
Across the country, people are beginning to understand how growing up on social media can affect a child. In Illinois, Cam Barrett turned her childhood trauma over her mother’s online posts into advocacy, becoming an internet watchdog pushing for stronger protections for children. In a CNN report, Barrett talked about how her mother posted about her first period when she was just 9 years old. Everything in her life, from a skin condition to a car accident to tantrums, was posted on social media. Barrett helped Illinois become the first U.S. state to pass a law requiring parents of children featured in money-making online content to put a percentage of gross earnings into a trust. She also testified before the Washington State House about the state’s children’s privacy bill.
For many families, social media has become a digital scrapbook of childhood. But as the lines between memory-keeping and public sharing grow thinner, experts remind parents that the most meaningful moments don’t have to be posted to be preserved. Sometimes, keeping a memory private is the best way to protect it.
Additional Resources
- How to Protect SWFL Children from Cyberbullying and Keep Them Safe
- How Southwest Florida Parents Can Create Healthier Social Media Habits at Home
- How to Set Parental Controls on Your Child’s iPhone
- How to set up parental controls for your child’s Android device
