Dr. Pamela Wisniewski was recently featured in the American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology in an article examining “sharenting”—the practice of parents and caregivers sharing photos, videos, and other information about their children online. The article explores how these everyday practices can create lasting implications for children’s privacy, autonomy, and safety.
Wisniewski emphasized that protecting children’s privacy should not mean waiting until adulthood to give them control over their digital lives. Instead, families can gradually involve children in decisions about what gets shared online:
“Consent education needs to be scaffolded.”
She explained that children can be included in developmentally appropriate conversations about the benefits and potential consequences of sharing, helping them build the skills needed to make their own privacy decisions as they grow.
Wisniewski also highlighted opportunities for technology platforms to better support families through thoughtful design. For example, platforms could provide “just-in-time” interventions that alert users when a photo contains location metadata or prompt caregivers to consider the audience and potential implications before posting content involving a child.
Rather than placing the responsibility for children’s online privacy entirely on families, these approaches demonstrate how Safety by Design can help parents receive support while protecting children’s privacy and fostering their growing autonomy.
Read the full article: What you need to know before sharing your child’s life online