#over-sharenting

[mafaldaknows]

[iww-gnv]

After Illinois passed the country’s first law protecting child influencers last week, a feeling of optimism swept over Sarah Adams. For years, she and other advocates against child exploitation have warned about the dangers of sharing children’s lives on social media for profit. The law would ensure financial compensation for minors, defined as children under 16 years old, who are featured in vlogs, or video blogs. While Adams is not based in the U.S., she and other activists who spoke with NBC News said they are excited by the news. They believe the legislation marks a precedent that could encourage similar action in states across the country. “There is a lot of excitement that these conversations are not only being had, but that legislation is being enacted to protect the income that these kids are generating,” said Adams, a 38-year-old mother of two from Vancouver who calls out child exploitation online with her platform of more than 270,000 TikTok followers. “Because we need to be realistic: It’s the children that are generating the income for these families.” Ethical concerns around “sharenting” have come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as family vloggers and parenting influencers continue to build massive followings online. Advocates have called out the harms of invading children's privacy and compromising their digital safety for clout or monetary gain, especially without informed consent.

[Read the rest]

[alarrytale]

Different anon, but i feel the same way. Isn’t posting young kids’ full names and faces online still exploitative? Maybe they weren’t born with the sole intent of being money makers, but it’s still exposing young children to a massive audience when they’re too young to consent. I don’t think that sort of thing is suddenly free from harm just because there isn’t a stunt behind it. Parents oversharing their kids’ lives online without their consent, “sharenting” as it’s called, is quickly being recognized as a form of child abuse in a lot of the world. Even if we got everything else we wanted, coming out, babygate exposure, duet album or even 1D reunion, that kind of abuse is something i wouldn’t be able to stomach. And even if they don’t, i can so easily see certain larrie blogs argue that HL “owe” them “wholesome family content” after supporting them through over a decade of stunts, which i think would be the final nail in the coffin for me and this community. Real children’s well being is more important than larries getting “content.”

Hey, anon!

I don't think i'd go so far to equal 'sharenting' to abuse. It's controversial and can be exploitative (as you say). I think it depends on what gets shared and how. The parents often do it with good intentions and are possibly a bit naive to the potential consequeces. Some celebs want to show off their mini me's for narcissistic reasons though. It's overall morally gray.

I think it's a bit different when you are a celebrity. Exposing your child to the public as a celebrity may greatly benefit them. Nepotism is widespread in showbusiness and people knowing your face and your parents reputation gives you privilege, instant namerecognition and a head start in life. The kids can get brand deals, become influencers and carve out a career/secure an income source out of nothing. The kids are then set for life without an honest day of work. Just because of their name and parents. Think of Brooklyn Beckham (dude is famous, has never worked a day in his life), Lily Rose Depp and Blue Ivy Carter just to name a few. I don't think either of them blame their parents for exposing them to the public as children. They've greatly benefited of it.

Some celeb parents wants their kids to have a 'normal' life out of the spotlight and learn to do honest work, earn their own money and not live off of their parents. On the other hand some celebrity parents want their kids to catapult off their parents fame and money to become famous and rich themselves. Aka use their own privilege to get their kids the same privilege. Kids of celebs often grow up to want to be entertainers themselves. It's also not that hard to remove yourself from the spotlight when you're older if you so choose (see Aimee Osborne).

There is also massive media attention on celeb offsprings, so some may think 'Hey, they're going to be papped at some point anyways. Might as well sell the pics and story to People magazine and earn money off of it. It can go into their college fund'.

I'm not sure which route HL would take with their children. I think it would be hard to guard their privacy a 100 per cent. I agree the childrens well being is the most important thing. I just don't know if that means privacy out of the spotlight or ensuring them a life of opportunities just around the corner. Time will tell i guess.

[themomsandthecity]

"Sharenting" May Be Common, but How Does It Affect Kids?

Parenting in today's digital-first, social media world comes with unique challenges that generations before us didn't have to navigate. For millennials, growing up meant milestones were captured and shared through photo albums, diaries, and stories told from memory. Younger generations, however, are now experiencing the opposite: milestones are made accessible and publicly available by their parents. These early digital traces mark the start of a child's online presence, which will continue to grow and evolve throughout their lives. This practice is known as "sharenting," and it's become an unexpected byproduct of parenting in the age of social media. Parenting experts have hesitations and warnings about the potential problems sharenting may bring, however. Below, we tapped various experts for their advice on how parents can share their everyday lives while also protecting their child's privacy and safety. --- Experts Featured in This Article Monika Roots, MD, is a child psychiatrist and co-founder of Bend Health, a provider of pediatric mental health care for kids. Jolie Silva, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and chief operating officer of New York Behavioral Health. --- What Is Sharenting? A survey published in the journal "Healthcare" in 2023, defines sharenting as the practice of sharing "photos, videos, personal stories, and other updates" about one's child online. The term sharenting is precisely what it sounds like, and it's a portmanteau of sharing and parenting. More specifically, it applies to parents who share the everyday lives of their kids and their typical activities, including "eating, sleeping, bathing, and playing." In most cases, however, children aren't old enough to consent to have their images or stories told and shared with the masses, and they also aren't old enough to understand the potential future issues that might come from private images or stories being told publicly. Social media can be a tool for parents to connect with friends and family. It's also a helpful outlet for parents looking for a sense of community for support or advice on raising kids. But the benefits of sharenting might not outweigh the drawbacks. The Impact of Sharenting on Parents and Children Sharenting primarily presents an ethical dilemma around consent. "Young children are not able to consent to what content is being shared online about them," says child psychiatrist Monika Roots, MD. "Some parents post moments like potty training and temper tantrums, and while those are relatable parenting moments you may want to connect with others about, it can feel like a violation of a child's privacy," Dr. Roots tells PS. Most parents who share content online about their kids don't intend for it to be harmful, but there are some unintended consequences of sharenting that parents are unknowingly bolstering, says psychologist Jolie Silva, PhD. "Parents of this generation have mastered a cognition known as 'social comparison,' which is exactly what it sounds like - comparing yourself to others," she says. This may, for example, manifest itself in a mom looking at photos another mom shared of her 2 year old sitting on the potty while she's sharing the struggles of getting her 3 year old to give up her diapers. According to Dr. Silva, this cycle of comparison can have severe detrimental effects, including depression and anxiety. Dr. Roots echoes this statement, saying that sharenting and comparison "can lead to a child developing anxiety and self-esteem issues, and they worry about what photos or videos of them have been posted online." She says this can escalate as time passes, where a child may "feel like they have lost control over their privacy and even cause them not to feel safe." In addition to sharenting being detrimental to a child's mental health, their physical safety could be at risk, Dr. Roots warns: "If you decide to post content of your child online for the general public… https://www.popsugar.com/family/what-is-sharenting-49342971?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[technewssocial]

Foto dei figli sui social e sharenting. Gabriele Gobbo e Gabriele Franco - 155

Foto dei figli sui social e sharenting. Gabriele Gobbo e Gabriele Franco – 155

Over-sharenting e foto dei figli sui social sì o no? Una questione molto discussa, spesso con genitori quasi maniacali nel pubblicare centinaia di foto al mese. Ma si può fare e, soprattutto, fa bene o male farlo? E può essere pericoloso? Ne parliamo in questa puntata in cui l’avatar digitale di Gabriele Gobbo ospita Gabriele Franco nel Gobboverso. Over-sharenting: Rischi e problemi delle foto…

[principleofplenitude]

In the report, Longfield argues that parents are exposing their children’s data at an alarming rate. The report calculates that by the time a kid turns 18, there will be 70,000 posts about them on the internet. The report calls on parents and schools to examine the type of gadgets children play with, like smart speakers, wifi-powered toys, and gaming apps, all of which are collecting data on kids. It also recommends that local governments start pressuring big tech for answers about surveillance and data collection. A big culprit: “sharenting,” or parents willingly giving away their children’s information, like name and date of birth. Those Facebook birth announcements may be posted with innocent intentions, but they can come with serious consequences. According to security experts at Barclays consulted for the children’s commissioner report, this leaves the door open to identity theft. The experts cited criminal reports where kids’ data was stashed away until they turned 18, upon which fraudulent credit card and loans applications were created in their names. Crucial identity bits like a pet’s name or a mother’s maiden name are also easily trackable on social media. Barclays, the report goes on, “has forecast that by 2030 ‘sharenting’ will account for two-thirds of identity fraud facing young people over 18.” Location sharing is another major misuse of data. Those “first day of school” photos, for example, can be tagged with a school’s location, which can expose a school’s (and child’s) address. Snapchat also has a live location sharing feature that lets followers see where they are. Longfield points out that while this feature is only visible to users on a child’s friend list, “children often befriend people online who they do not know in real life, and some might target children through the Snap Maps feature.”

“Big tech has your kid’s data — and you probably gave it to them“ from Vox

[vicholas]

Over half of these words are terrible, we’re really missing the chance to create fun new terms instead of shit like “Cuckservative”, “Sharenting” or “Womance”. Someone suggest some good new words quick.

[salestipstricks]

Leah Plunkett shares some tips from her new book, ‘Sharenthood’ – Harvard Gazette

Leah Plunkett shares some tips from her new book, ‘Sharenthood’ – Harvard Gazette

Leah Plunkett serves on the Youth and Media team of researchers at the Berkman Klein Center for the Internet & Society, focusing on student privacy, digital citizenship, and educational equity. The publication of her first book, “Sharenthood,” this month says the many ways adults can compromise children’s privacy is an “over-sharenting crisis.”

“People have the hardest time getting used to the…

[db-best]

Leah Plunkett shares some tips from her new book, 'Sharenthood' - Harvard Law School News

Leah Plunkett shares some tips from her new book, ‘Sharenthood’ – Harvard Law School News

Leah Plunkett serves on the Youth and Media team of researchers at the Berkman Klein Center for the Internet & Society, focusing on student privacy, digital citizenship, and educational equity. The publication of her first book, “Sharenthood,” this month says the many ways adults can compromise children’s privacy is an “over-sharenting crisis.”

“People have the hardest time getting used to the…

[whileiamdying]

While we often hear parents caution their children about safety, this time the tables are turned. In the video op-ed above, three children confront their mothers about “sharenting.” They are members of the first generation whose entire life could be documented on social media. It’s a generation that’s digitally savvy and concerned about what parents post online. The U.S. law meant to protect kids online (COPPA) “places parents in control over what information is collected from their young children online.” But innocent posts from parents can carry unintended consequences. Studies estimate that by 2030, “sharenting” will play a role in two-thirds of identity fraud cases facing the young generation. Parents also risk unwittingly exposing their children to data broker profiling, hacking, facial recognition tracking, pedophilia and other threats to privacy and security. The New York Times is interested in your feedback! Please click here to participate in our survey: http://nyt.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0v35ISpZRmczSuh Subscribe: http://bit.ly/U8Ys7n More from The New York Times Video: http://nytimes.com/video ---------- Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.

[disneyfanmeg]

Keep It 100. How To Earn Beauty VoxBoxes.

Influenster is a social networking site a step above the other ones because they score you and the higher your score is, the more influential you are. The more influential you are the more Voxboxes you get from them.

Their promotional boxes are called Voxboxes. Most of them are beauty related, but they have a box for everything, such as moms, kids, and even pets. A Voxbox can show up with a sample of Nyquil in it, or it could be a box packed with sample sizes (or occasionally full-size products). Many are beauty boxes with full-size products.

You have to give this your best effort. You need to put your profile together; put up a picture, and link all your social media accounts. Your accounts need to be public. If you're not going to make your accounts public, you need to make a public one separate from your private one.

You need to get on Influenster and start reviewing products; it's a lot like Amazon or Sephora reviews. You review the products and you give them stars. The more reviews you do and the more reviews you like helps. Posting increases your chances of getting selected for a screening for a box.

You know you are being considered for a box when they email you a survey. 

The physical boxes are based on anything tangible. How they decide who gets one is analytical, as they are looking for certain people. For some boxes, they are looking for moms, while some boxes are based on age and sex, and some are based on skin type. 

It never hurts to have a large following on social media. I will tell you, I barely ever got boxes before, and I have gotten several screening surveys in the last two months because I worked really hard. I got my Instagram account up to over 3,000 followers, and I am over 5000 on Twitter.

It does not hurt to go onto social media and find accounts similar to yours that are successful and do research. Use the same hash tags, and post during the same time of day that they are posting. You do not want you to copy them; be your authentic self, but learn from them. 

There is no room for fake people in this. When selling yourself as an influencer, you have to be real. Your authentic voice has to come through, and you to be active on social media. 

Being active on Instagram and Twitter account is crucial. If you want likes and followers, posting beautiful pictures is key. Pinterest and Facebook help in reaching a wider audience I would focus mainly on Twitter and Instagram. 

Instagram can share your posts to Facebook for you. This makes having an official Facebook page less work for some.

Keep your personal life as separate from these accounts. Think of it as a job. Be yourself, but compartmentalize your private life on social media. You need a private life outside of this, just for you. Your followers are here on Instagram to look at pretty pictures. They care but not that much. 

Posting about your personal life is more appropriate on Facebook and on a blog. If you're a mom blogger with parents following you that may not translate well on some social platforms where people want to see specific things.

Twitter is succinct. Instagram is about being aesthetically pleasing. You're supposed to keep things simple and clean. 

You can promote on these sites. Remember that these sites appeal to many teenagers and young adults. 

What is relevant to a 27-year-old mother of two. May not be to a 17-year-old girl who just wants to see pictures of makeup and her friends if you're incorporating beauty into your account. 

Mothers who follow you because of your blog won't mind an assortment of photos and posts. People who follow you for one or two specific reasons will. 

Are you going to going to work and tell your boss and all your co-workers that your husband is annoying you? Are you going to tell everyone that you know that your kid pissed on the carpet? No. Keep it authentic, but don't tell everyone everything. Most people just don't care, and you're scaring away potential followers who may love you, and not the kid stuff. Most of us are parents who want a break when we are on Instagram. 

Please, do not be hurt by the thought some people do not want to see pictures of your kids. Read this. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/11941105/Over-sharenting-baby-photos-on-social-media-has-ruined-it.html

The bottom line is if you want to get beauty boxes and are a mom blogger, consider using your Instagram account to focus solely on beauty. Promote your mom blog on Facebook and Twitter. Beauty is huge on Instagram. Make a separate account for parenting.

If you want to start getting more promotional items related to beauty, and all you post are pictures of your kids, it's not going to happen. Sometimes mom bloggers with a substantial following are the exception. 

Beauty companies want to give stuff away to people who attract people with money to spend on makeup. Many of the people who follow beauty influencers are teens and young women without kids. Moms count too. Remember makeup is for everyone. 

Remember, many young people left Facebook because it used to be the cool place for college kids, but then everyone else invaded after Myspace started to wane. My Grandma has a Facebook. She does not shop at Sephora. 

You want young people with disposable income following you. If your posts are all about parenting, and they don't have kids, they won't follow you. Pure and simple.  

There is also this to consider. So read up.  http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/10/28/499595298/do-parents-invade-childrens-privacy-when-they-post-photos-online

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/02/07/can-i-post-photos-of-other-peoples-children_n_9184560.html

https://www.aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/internet-privacy/kids-arent-alrightwith-you-putting-their-photos-online

From the male perspective:

http://adadable.com/no-one-wants-to-see-picture-of-your-kids/

Moving on.

Most good quality pictures use the right hash tags. Know what hash tags are trending. Posting at the right times of the day is key. For me, it is in the middle of the night that works best.

Follow people who are following your competitors! Yes, I just said that right. Follow the people that like their posts. Follow those who comment. Do not follow all of their followers. Follow the followers who like the same things you do; this means looking at hundreds if not thousands of profiles. It is intense work. Following some of their followers in hopes, they will follow you could result in people who unfollow quickly. You want people who will like your pictures. You want followers who will interact with your account. You need positive engagement. Not just followers. 

Many influencers purchase their followers, and we all use different apps that help us track our followers. We know who is following us and unfollowing us. We live and die by numbers.

Monitor your competition, you might be similar accounts and you might be friends with them.   You are going to have to keep up with them. Instagram and Twitter can be vicious. People will follow and unfollow in hopes of you noticing them and following them. People will block you for unfollowing them. It is hard work. Do not be like that. You want true followers and true engagement. Therefore, if you want people to notice you, you have to make them find you. 

If I really like someone and they are active on social media, I want them to like me, so I must engage with them on social media. I am going to like their posts, and I will comment. If you have many followers, it's a lot of work. You have to care about them. Being unauthentic will lead to failure.

I love my followers. They are the reason I take pictures, and they are why I write reviews. I want them to be happy. They give me a purpose. I will answer private messages. I will give them my tips. I look for followers that are people I want to follow. I follow people who I would befriend in real life. 

You could participate in promotional Facebook groups. However, the followers you get from that may unfollow, and they are a lot of work. Another point; the people who follow you from these likely are not following you because they want to. They may not engage with your account. 

These groups help, but in my opinion, you're better off earning followers from the effort on your part. These groups can help get you started and give you support, but cannot sustain you. You need authentic followers who like you for you. 

Now that we have covered how to improve your social media score out of the way, you have to get a website or blog where you can put your Influenster badge. The more clicks your badge gets, the more likely you are to get a box.

Add Influenster email addresses to your contacts, so your emails never are put into the spam box. You have to fill out the screening surveys; those are how you know you are being considered for a box. 

Stay on top of things. Go where they have samples and makeup, and swatch makeup. If there is a hygienic way of testing makeup then wear it.  Ask for samples, use the products, and test them out. Spray perfume and wear it for the rest the day, and then write a review on it. Do not ever write fake reviews.

If you do not like something, tell the truth. even if you got it from the Voxbox or it was given to you free somewhere else. Be honest, because I do not want to follow someone that never dislikes anything. You have to give negative reviews of bad things. Do not lead people astray. If I am following a beauty blogger and they say they love everything, I know they are full of crap and I unfollow them. Not everything is going to work for you. If you want people to know that you are honest and they should listen to you, then you have to come forward when things are bad quality.

It is not that hard to understand how to use Influenster; you log in as you would for any other website, you check your account, and you make sure that you do not have any messages (which they call snaps). Snaps are asking you if you have tried certain products. If you have used them, be honest. Review only things you have used. After that, go to the front page, and see what's on the top. If you do not have those items or you have not tried them yet, then make a list; go down to Sephora or Ulta and test them out. 

When someone reviews an eye shadow palette, I know when they did not try it, because those of us into makeup know when someone is lying. It is obvious. You do not have to own it, to be honest. Go to Ulta, swatch the Naked heat palette, and take pictures of the swatches. Give your honest impressions, especially if you think it is not worth buying, and save someone the expense. 

It is completely fine to review something you do not own, at least in my opinion, as long as you have actually tested it and used it. If you want to get more high-end makeup boxes, you need to be on top of what is hot at Sephora. Sephora will give you samples of anything. Just ask, you can review Drunk Elephant and not purchase it because they will give you enough to try it for a few days. Want to get the Mom boxes? Then review what you use for your kids. 

It is not easy to get a box. They only give so many boxes out, and there are many people that want them. Some people want these boxes more than you do. They are going to put in the effort that it takes to get the box. Some people just get lucky; sometimes they want a 35-year-old woman with blond hair to test a certain item, and select who they do because she answered the survey the second she got it.

Influenster does a lot virtual box boxes where you get absolutely nothing. Sometimes it is a coupon, but you are doing these for the chance to win a Mega Voxbox. I have won once. It can be a lot of work to do the virtual vox boxes, but it also helps you put more effort into using the website. Doing these also helps you gauge how much a post like this will affect your social media accounts. Many followers will bounce if there is sponsored content or contests.

Influenster may seem complicated and confusing, but it is no harder than using Amazon is once you try it. Once you get a higher score, the work is not as hard, but you still have to log in at least once a week. Post a review. Complete your snaps. I am already working hard on building my social media accounts, so logging into Influenster at this point is no big deal. 

The big deal is when you get the boxes. You want to unlock your Inflenster badge for that box by promoting that item. It is crucial you make it known that you received these items for free or as complimentary for testing purposes. 

Once you start getting VoxBoxes you have made it. Influenster is user-friendly. It take's a little bit of adjusting. 

Social Media can be confusing. If you have many followers and interaction stick to what you're doing. If not try some of my tips and see what happens.

I am sitting here right now typing this up wearing Emporio Armani perfume I received for free in my last VoxBox. I received $138 dollars worth of Emporio Armani fragrance for free. I know what I am talking about. I want you to be able to earn these wonderful beauty boxes as well. 

Take my advice ladies and gents. 

[themomsandthecity]

"Sharenting" May Be Common, but How Does It Affect Kids? Experts Explain

Parenting in today's digital-first, social media world comes with unique challenges that generations before us didn't have to navigate. For millennials, growing up meant milestones were captured and shared through photo albums, diaries, and stories told from memory. Younger generations, however, are now experiencing the opposite: milestones are made accessible and publicly available by their parents. These early digital traces mark the start of a child's online presence, which will continue to grow and evolve throughout their lives. This practice is known as "sharenting," and it's become an unexpected byproduct of parenting in the age of social media. Parenting experts have hesitations and warnings about the potential problems sharenting may bring, however. Below, we tapped various experts for their advice on how parents can share their everyday lives while also protecting their child's privacy and safety. What Is Sharenting? A survey published in the journal "Healthcare" in 2023, defines sharenting as the practice of sharing "photos, videos, personal stories, and other updates" about one's child online. The term sharenting is precisely what it sounds like, and it's a portmanteau of sharing and parenting. More specifically, it applies to parents who share the everyday lives of their kids and their typical activities, including "eating, sleeping, bathing, and playing." In most cases, however, children aren't old enough to consent to have their images or stories told and shared with the masses, and they also aren't old enough to understand the potential future issues that might come from private images or stories being told publicly. Social media can be a tool for parents to connect with friends and family. It's also a helpful outlet for parents looking for a sense of community for support or advice on raising kids. But the benefits of sharenting might not outweigh the drawbacks. The Impact of Sharenting on Parents and Children Sharenting primarily presents an ethical dilemma around consent. "Young children are not able to consent to what content is being shared online about them," says Monika Roots, MD, a child psychiatrist and co-founder of Bend Health, a provider of pediatric mental health care for kids. "Some parents post moments like potty training and temper tantrums, and while those are relatable parenting moments you may want to connect with others about, it can feel like a violation of a child's privacy," Dr. Roots tells POPSUGAR. Most parents who share content online about their kids don't intend for it to be harmful, but there are some unintended consequences of sharenting that parents are unknowingly bolstering, says Jolie Silva, PhD, a clinical psychologist and chief operating officer of New York Behavioral Health. "Parents of this generation have mastered a cognition known as 'social comparison,' which is exactly what it sounds like - comparing yourself to others," she says. This may, for example, manifest itself in a mom looking at photos another mom shared of her 2 year old sitting on the potty while she's sharing the struggles of getting her 3 year old to give up her diapers. According to Dr. Silva, this cycle of comparison can have severe detrimental effects, including depression and anxiety. Dr. Roots echoes this statement, saying that sharenting and comparison "can lead to a child developing anxiety and self-esteem issues, and they worry about what photos or videos of them have been posted online." She says this can escalate as time passes, where a child may "feel like they have lost control over their privacy and even cause them not to feel safe." In addition to sharenting being detrimental to a child's mental health, their physical safety could be at risk, Dr. Roots warns: "If you decide to post content of your child online for the general public to see, it's important to leave out private details like where they go to school and what street or neighborhood you live… https://www.popsugar.com/family/what-is-sharenting-49342971?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[laurenxconrad]

Lauren Conrad Talks All Things Pregnancy.

As long as we’ve known Lauren Conrad—first from MTV’s reality hit Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and then on The Hills—she’s had a posse. The designer, 31, is relying on her inner circle now more than ever as she operates a fashion/lifestyle brand that includes running and designing for Kohl’s (where she just launched her maternity line) as well as creating looks for her boutique label, Paper Crown. In her corner: Conrad’s musician-turned-lawyer hubby, William Tell, her parents, his parents, her coworkers, and her closest girl friends. They all have her back while she preps for the next stage of her life: parenthood.

Fun before fam

“I always thought, ‘Someday, I’ll have a family.’ But it wasn’t until I was married that it was a real conversation. I think your 20s are about figuring out who you are and finding a career. Then once I got married, William and I wanted a couple years to ourselves. When you’re a mother, you’re no longer your own top priority, and that idea was a little scary to me. But we’re ready for a baby now.”

Eager grandparents

“Our parents did pressure us for grandkids, in an emotionally playful but persistent way. They would team up on us, which could get intense. My parents were young when they had babies—they had me at 25—and they loved it, so they encouraged us to do it sooner rather than later.”

Her big OMG moment

“Aside from William, the first person I told about my pregnancy was my best friend, because my initial reaction was to freak out—in a good way. I wanted to be able to tell our parents later in a calmer, celebratory fashion. But my girlfriend has known me since we were in elementary school, so she was my choice for a freakout.”

Bye, wine

“I must have been eating more cheese and wine than I realized, because I’ve really been missing them. I haven’t had crazy cravings, but I’ve had some food aversions. For a while I couldn’t eat meat.”

Sono share

“I started showing fast, and it was tricky to hide. I wanted to share the news with everybody, and posting my sonogram felt like the simplest way to do it. I was aiming to be a lot more clever—I feel like a lot of people are adorable in the way they announce—but I honestly didn’t have any bright ideas.”

Sweetest advice from her doc

“Early in my pregnancy I was nauseous all day and having difficulty putting on weight, which was funny because I’ve never had that issue in my entire life! My mom told me to start drinking milkshakes and my doctor said to go for it—to have a daily milkshake.”

Her sweat sessions

“In my second trimester I returned to my exercise routine. Now I hike with girlfriends and I do classes using weights, tailoring moves to my body so that I’m not lying on my back or doing stomach exercises. I still do the treadmill, but I push the power walking instead of running.”

Labor? Shrug!

“Last night I ordered a book on putting together a birth plan. My main concern is doing whatever’s right in the moment. My friends have said, ‘Have a plan, but don’t be so committed that you’re unwilling to change if you need to.’ I’m not worried about the pain that comes with giving birth. Maybe I’m just naive, but it’s pretty low on my list of concerns. I feel like women have been doing this forever.”

Coworkers on the bump watch

“A maternity line has always been a possibility at Kohl’s. In meetings with the team there, I would make fun of them for listing it on memos, ‘pending LC status.’ I was like, ‘Guys, you have to stop!’ Of course now I’m grateful that Kohl’s is excited. After I had tried shopping for maternity clothes myself and then was ready to design my own, they said, ‘Great!’ ”

Creative spark

“I felt that if I was having difficulty finding maternity pieces I wanted to wear, then my customer probably was as well. I want pregnant women to still feel like themselves. I tried to create looks that are appropriate for work, for going out to dinner, or for a girls’ night out. The line is very personal to me.”

Boss moves

“I’m running my own businesses, so it’s difficult to give myself maternity leave. But I’ve put things into place so I’ll be able to spend time recuperating and adjusting after I give birth. I made a big effort over the last two years to build a team that I trust, knowing my end goal was to be a mother. I’ve gotten to the place where I feel confident that I can step away for a minute and everyone will be able to carry on.”

The sharenting question

“I’m going to have to figure out how much of motherhood to share on social media. Obviously you want to protect your child in every way you can. At the same time, my brand is based on being accessible and sharing the milestones of my life, and I’m so excited about it all. I’ll find a middle ground.”

Love for her little

“I’m thrilled to be having a boy. I really wanted a boy. My husband kept saying, ‘We just want a healthy baby.’ And I’d say, ‘But a boy would be nice!’ I was a wild little tomboy, so I think I understand boys. My mom always told me that nobody loves you like a son does, especially when he’s young.”

Inner circle welcome!

“Once he’s here, all my friends and family are invited over—the more the merrier. Especially since it’s our first, I want to make sure we have lots of people around for support and to be sure that we’re doing everything correctly. Both of our families live only 15 minutes away, so that’s nice for babysitting!”

[digitalmark18-blog]

'Perfect family' posts on social media fuel anxiety, says survey

New Post has been published on https://britishdigitalmarketingnews.com/perfect-family-posts-on-social-media-fuel-anxiety-says-survey/

'Perfect family' posts on social media fuel anxiety, says survey

Does linking up with other mothers and fathers on Facebook and Instagram make parents happier? The answer, it would seem, is “no”.

A survey by Priory Group, mental healthcare specialists with a well-being centre in Dubai, found that as many as half of parents polled think that social media channels like Instagram and Facebook create unrealistic and unattainable expectations of family life, which fuel anxiety and can trigger depression. The survey was done in September among 1,002 parents of youth under the age of 18.

More than one in five parents (22 per cent) said that happy family pictures posted on Instagram, or exuberant baby blog posts on Facebook and other sites, made them feel “inadequate” – while a similar number, 23 per cent, said it made them feel “depressed”.

They didn’t think they were alone.

Nearly 40 per cent said they thought idealised images of parenthood – and “over-sharenting” – were fuelling anxiety among new parents, while more than a third (36 per cent) said they thought baby bloggers and ‘Insta-mums’ were contributing to rising rates of depression.

Some 43 per cent said the bloggers made others feel inadequate, while more than one in 10 said that rather than feel more connected to other mothers, they could make new parents feel even more isolated.

While the desire to share the joy of having a newborn in the family is nothing new, social media platforms have taken proud parenting to a new level, with “baby boasting”, “parenting wins” and “mummy-goals” becoming as much part of the daily routine as breastfeeding and nappy-changes.

There are, of course, clear benefits to “being social” – particularly for mothers without a close network at hand. Social media can be reassuring for new parents who turn to their online community for advice on anything from health, relationships, “best buys”, and general parenting techniques.

For others, however, endlessly “perfect” posts can have the reverse effect, generating feelings of not measuring up, even though they know that continuous boasting, and glossing over the less positive moments in life, is disingenuous and fake.

Dr Rasha Bassim, consultant psychiatrist at Priory, said: “While extremely worrying, these latest findings come as no surprise. In today’s society, the social media influence on many new parents starts from the moment they carry out a positive pregnancy test.”

“From finding out the gender of their baby and planning a baby shower, to creating an ‘idealistic’ birth plan, social media is awash with posts depicting and normalising unrealistic expectations of motherhood.”

Around one in five women have mental health problems during pregnancy or in the first year after birth. Depression and anxiety in particular are extremely common and can cause significant suffering if left untreated.

While ‘baby-blues’ tend to last for just a couple of weeks, post-natal depression is far more intense and debilitating. So, considering the major life changes pregnancy and motherhood entail, not forgetting the accompanying roller coaster of emotions, social media presents a real danger of compounding and exacerbating what can already be an extremely anxious, stressful, and exhausting time.

“Of course, social media can have its place, but I would advise all new mums to enter the social media bubble with caution,” she said.

She also said, “Over half of women with mental health problems in pregnancy or after birth are not identified. Even fewer have the evidence-based treatments they need. So, its vital new mums are open and honest about their feelings and concerns and seek professional help when necessary.”

Bijal Oza, global director for counseling and coaching centre and clinical psychologist, SP Jain School of Business Management, said that social media could help new parents who are in need of assurance or validation about the challenges of parenting. “However, new parents need to be self- aware of the consequences of constant comparisons, and overload of information on parenting. Being mindful and self-aware can help new parents navigate through the pressures of social media,” she said.

Dr Deepa Shankar, clinical psychologist at NMC, said that on social media, people generally tend to portray themselves in a highly positive manner.

“This can cause stress, and help, too. It has both effects and depends on the tendencies of the parent. Mothers who have perfectionist traits and a tendency to constantly compare themselves to others on social networking sites may feel more depressed and less competent as parents,” said Shankar.

Research shows that it’s not how long the new mother spends their time on social media rather how they spend their time is more important. This as well as whether mothers compare themselves to others may ultimately affect mothers’ adjustment to parenthood and well-being.

“Social networking can also benefit a mother by providing a support system if she uses it to get information and share her experience, rather than compare,” Shankar said.

> Be brave and unfollow or unfriend: The simple step of hitting the unfollow button on a ‘friend’s’ Instagram or Facebook account can really help release the pressure and instil a sense of calm. Likewise, unfollowing celebrity mums or ‘Insta-mums’ will instantly remove comparisons with their unique and often unattainable lifestyles.

> If you want to spend time online, use apps and websites that will help you as a parent: Apps such as “Mush” (www.letsmush.com) help mums connect with other local mums; here you can share the ups and downs of parenting and avoid being isolated.

> Remain ‘guilt-free’ and always remember your ‘me time’: Having some ‘me time’ is a necessity to surviving the day-to-day life as a mum. Just 15-20 mins to unwind every day can have significant emotional benefits.

> Be prepared: It’s important for pregnant women and new mums to treat their mental health with as much care as they do for their physical health. If you’ve had mental health problems previously, or if you have current symptoms, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. They will know what help and support there is in your area. Getting help early on means you have a chance to prevent illness, or at least to have treatment early before problems become too serious.

> Get enough sleep: Quality sleep can be a real problem when you have a newborn to attend to, but not getting enough can seriously exacerbate mental ill health. When the baby naps, forget about the washing-up, dirty nappies, etc – they can all wait. Grab a 10-15-minute power nap at the same time. You will feel so much better for it.

> Accept offers of help: Don’t struggle in silence and be afraid of relying on others. Ask for help from family and friends, whether it’s to cook dinner or look after the children while you go for a lie-down – most will only be too happy to help.

> Chat it out: It’s easy to feel isolated when you’re home with a baby all day, so make sure you stay engaged with the people in your life, preferably face-to-face and not online. Talking about your day, your feelings, or even your favourite TV show with a partner or friend can have a positive effect on your emotional well-being.

> Ride the emotional roller coaster: Emotional ups and downs are normal. But a ride that only goes down is broken. Get help if you’re not bonding; if you start to have negative thoughts about the baby or yourself; or if you experience severe mood swings for more than a couple of weeks.

Filtered reality

Social media is incredible at mobilising support and bringing us closer to one another. But it often portrays a filtered reality where happy and smiley faces are cherished and preferred. New parents, families, and children should be mindful of this reality. A warm and loving relation in real life can never be gauged by the number of likes on social media. The real opportunities lie in our real lives, in the company of whom we call our own.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/general/perfect-family-posts-on-social-media-fuel-anxiety-says-survey

[forsakebook]

Thousands of parents have not been trained properly about appropriate and healthy boundaries or the potential danger of chronic over-sharing of private material regarding their children. And often, parents who engage in this behavior are doing so to soothe their own fears, insecurities and anxieties, and don’t see how damaging it will be to their children over time.

[narcisbolgor-blog]

Kids Dont Have Parents AnymoreThey Have Sharents

Who and what is a sharent exactly? If you have both a child and a smartphone, its probably you.

Sharenting, a term to describe parents who actively share their kids digital identities online, is rampant in the United States, with 92 percent of toddlers under the age of 2 already having their own unique digital identity. As 2017 comes to a close, it appears to be a phenomenon that shows no sign of slowing down.

When I first started looking into the topic, I was wrestling with the issue as a mother myself, says Stacey Steinberg, one of the most noted researchers on the issue and the author of Sharenting: Childrens Privacy in the Age of Social Media. The more I looked into it, the more I realized, this isnt just a moral issue, this is actually a public health issue.

Its no surprise then that international child advocacy organization UNICEF released a report this month lamenting the dangers of the bedroom culture which is leading to reckless sharentingone that can have profound implications on safety and psychological welfare, not to mention a childs right to privacy now, or later in life, their right to be digitally erased.

The statistics are stressful to consider:

One in four children said their parents sharenting made them feel embarrassed, anxious, worried, or sad.

Fifty percent of images shared on pedophile sites are stolen from social media sites.

Eighty-eight percent of teens think people are sharing too much online.

Fourteen percent of American moms maintain their own blogs of which there are an estimated 3.9 million in North Americawith the top 10 percent making six figures.

The pull to sharentfor profit, fame, and approvalis increasingly lucrative. InstaMom influencers make thousands of dollars with every campaign while YouTubes top family vloggers make hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Examining sharenting is more about truly understanding the implications of what we are doing and how its affecting kids, Steinberg says. This is a huge childrens rights issue, but we cant alienate parents who are doing this. Most parents truly crave more information to make informed decisions.

Not just amongst parents but internationally, opinions are often mixed. In the United Kingdom, opinion on the topic is split right down the middle, with half of parents keeping their kids identities private. In France, it might get you sent to jail. In Austria, a woman sued her parents for the embarrassing photos they posted of her on Facebook. And in America, its a topic sometimes treated with very jaded eyes, even in the press, such as The New York Times piece asking the question, Why Isnt Your Toddler Paying the Mortgage?

Upon closer examination, however, sharenting is less fun trend-piece or made-up media portmanteau (it was an official word of the year in 2016) and much more wake-up call as to how few protections exist for children in this emerging space. Unlike, say, in Hollywood, which employs the Child Actors Bill (sometimes known as Coogan Law) as protection, for all those babies who are now being literally born on YouTube or kids who daily are being asked by their parents to shill for brands for money, there is no equivalent protection.

A number of Daily Dot pieces get straight to the heart of examining the sharenting-over-parenting monster: The Problem With Viral Sassy Toddler Videos, or Is Creating Mommy-blog Content the New Child Labor? Indeed, when a viral expos like James Bridles Something is Wrong on the Internet, which published in November, unveiled just how disturbing the childrens landscape on YouTube has become, advertiser reaction was brutal and swift, essentially forcing the video giant to take action.

In the weeks since, YouTube has kicked off a number of channels including Toy Freaks, which had more than 8 million subscribers and featured disturbing content of the father appearing to traumatize his children with pranks that left them terrorized. In 2018, YouTube plans to hire 10,000 manual reviewers to monitor the issue.

A shift may be starting to take place. In the wake of the contentious viral saga of bullied child Keaton Jones, an editorial in The Washington Post this month pleaded, Parents, Please Stop Turning Your Kids Into Viral Sensations, in which Sonny Bunch wrote, For Gods sake: Stop putting your kids tears online for the rest of us to either laugh at or empathize with. Everything on the Internet will be there forever. Your children shouldnt be forced to live with your need for attention.

Another article in Slate wryly summed up the naked appeal for so many sharents trying to break into The Multimillion-Dollar Industry of Being a Happy Family on YouTube. As Leigh Alexander wrote, Can kids even truly consent to this use of their image? For that matter, what does it mean when a parent is, essentially, a childs employer? In the case of DaddyofFive, two parents played tricks on their children and lied to them in order to film and monetize their distress as comedyand ultimately lost custody of those children, facing charges of child neglect.

Most soberly of all, earlier this year in JAMA Pediatrics, the warning could not be clearer to both pediatricians and parents who might be oblivious. The report, co-authored by Steinberg warns: The disclosures parents share online will follow their children into adulthood, and although there are benefits to this, there are also potential harms that are unrecognized by many parents. Harms may include identity theft, resharing pirated information on predator sites, sharing psychosocial information that should remain private, and sharing revealing or embarrassing information that may be misused by others.

Child safety advocates are trying to determine best practices, but its an uphill battle when the spectrum for what one parent feels comfortable with versus another is so wildly different. Indeed, earlier this year gossip sites reported that Stella McCartney was upset when her friends the Beckhams posted a picture of her 6-year-old.

Actress Romola Garai spoke out even more angrily, saying, The privacy of children is invaded on a catastrophic scale I think well look back at this period as utterly perverse. It should be illegal to post pictures of children without their permission. If you have a private channel to share things among friends, thats one thing. But I cant imagine that this generation of children wont turn round in 20 years and say, I didnt want to be naked in a picture seen by millions of people I dont know. Privacy is very valuable.

No matter a parents stance on the topic, there are certain privacy and safety fundamentals to follow. Like hiding birthdates, addresses, school information, medical dataanything that could be misused in the wrong hands.

It amazes me when parents are so flippant about posting so much information online about their childrenincluding standing in front of their homes, with their address featured in the pictures and their schools, too, says Sue Scheff, the author of Shame Nation. Its not only about child predators. Many kids simply dont want their parents oversharing on social about their lives.

Alicia Blum-Ross, a researcher at the London School of Economics, suggests parents seize upon some of the recent sharenting controversy as an opportunity to engage with children, thereby figuring out the extent that they understand what social media is and what is appropriate or not and what might you share to one person and not the other? Weighing the pros and cons can be tricky, Blum-Ross says, because telling parents to share nothing may in effect cut them off from much needed and valued sources of support. Thats why, ultimately, parents need to be mindful about what they share, why, and with whom and to involve their children in that decision wherever possible.

That is exactly the golden rule that Jessica Delfino lives by in protecting the privacy of her son, and only sharing photos with close family and friends. She writes about the challenges of parenting on her blog One and Done Mombut never shows her childs face.

I just cant do it, says Delfino, who ironically in her own life has extensively chronicled herself digitallyfrom songs shes recorded about her vagina to a stunt where she wore a garbage bag around New York to see how people reacted. Trust me, resisting the urge to sharent goes against every natural instinct I have as a performer. That part of me is like, This kid is a goldmine. His face is worth millions! As a mother, Im like, Dont screw this baby up. Dont be a jerk. Dont be that person.

Interestingly, Delfino say its not an issue of consent, but that even if he could and did beg me to post his face, Id say no. Its about me protecting him from the scary world out there.

Even for avid sharenters like writer Marina Gomberg, who recently published, Do I Post Too Much About My Son? Yup, But I Cant Stop (and Wont Stop) in The Salt Lake Tribune, her sentiments echo Delfinos, and she holds herself to a personal standard that ensures parenting takes the priorityalways. Shes also knowledgeable about sharentings dark side.

The extremes of sharenting are definitely exploitive and concerning, she says. Which is why my wife and I are strict about what we share. We never post pictures of our son when he is crying or upset. I honestly dont understand why people do that. Why arent they attending to their child?

That is the big question its shocking more people do not ask. In a must-read piece about the aftermath and estrangement of family YouTubers, a 13-year-old toy reviewer reveals the awful reality of what its like to have your mother so focused on sharenting, the parenting seems to go almost entirely by the wayside.

Interestingly, while sharenting is a new phenomenon in the realm of digital dissemination, in terms of the controversy it stirs in protecting vulnerable children, the issue is not new at all. The godmother of sharenting just might be controversial photographer Sally Mann and her stirring, disturbing portraits of her children in 1992, which ignited a firestorm that in some ways has never stopped. Indeed, art historian Anne Higonnets words on Manns photographs then ring just as true (and as unresolved) as they do today: No subject is as publicly dangerous now as the subject of the childs body.

Just like the YouTube family vloggers of 2017 who bring up how it is actually the children begging to do all those sponsored videos, Mann once famously explained, The children love to model and are continuously thinking of new pictures. But like those vloggers of today, whose privacy selectivity is striking, Mann is notorious for the same. In 1994, when a documentarian made a short film on her work, she blocked its release because it felt too much like real life; that was an invasion. In her 2015 memoir (one year before the suicide of her eldest son, who had long grappled with schizophrenia), Mann discussed when she stops filming. As my father weakened with brain cancer, she wrote, I tried to photograph him But I put away my camera when I began to see that photographing his loss of dignity would cause him pain.

Thats the fundamental question inherent in all of this, really: loss of dignity.

Incredibly, it is often the childrennot the adultswho are more sensitive to the issue. Already, researchers are finding that it is the young people in our digital sharenting culture trying to talk sense into the parents, and not the other way around. (In a 2014 academic journal article called I Would Never Post That: Children, Moral Sensitivity and Online Disclosure, the article revealed it was the young people who had an acute understanding of the moral consequences of disclosing personal information about oneself and about others.)

For London writer Charlotte Philby, who announced in a touching piece why she was quitting sharenting, she described the heartbreaking moment her daughter came across an image of herself on her moms phone, and quietly reacted to it how it made her feel. I hate this one, she said, pleading to her mothers better nature. I look really sad. Please delete it.

Philby fell into the parenting market by accident when she became editor of a successful parenting website, and over time found herself desensitized by the glut of pictures bombarding her news feed.

I found myself increasingly sharing pictures, albeit largely ones I thought were funny or shone a meaningful light on what it is to be a multi-tasking parent, until there came a point where I no longer felt comfortable with my own behavior, she explains. In June last year, Philby announced a 12-month hiatus from social media, amidst wider concerns about the amount of information she shared with her 10,000 followers, and the amount of time and energy that social media had started to occupy in her life.

It was time stolen bit by bita bus ride here, a lunchtime there, she says.

Moreover, it was about setting an example to her children who were nearing ages where they, too, would soon be starting to use social media themselves.

How could I expect them to behave responsibly online, she asks, when I was demonstrating such a lack of restraint myself?

Sharenting and social addiction can indeed result in kids becoming overly conscious of how they appear because theyre highly aware of how concerned their parents are. Indeed, a BBC study showed that 25 percent of 10- to 12-year-olds who post selfies say it is very important to look good.

Josie Denise, once a rising mommy-blogger influencer, is currently wrestling with where she falls on the sharenting spectrum. Having gained a great bit of attention when she dramatically quit (and revealed the artifice behind) the world of mommy blogging a year ago, now she says, In the beginning, I was happy to whore myself out for anyone willing to send me free lipstick, you know?... When I quit posting to The American Mama, I was earning between $725-$1500 per partnership, sometimes more or less depending on the length of the campaign and number of posts. New influencers gasp and awe over the six-figure dream, but in reality for the majority of online content creators, the workload is unsustainable unless you are ready to hire a team of people.

Fortunately, there are a radical array of options for parents wrestling with how to determine their own sharenting approach. All of which contain a single commonality: Please do not forget to ask how the child feels about what is occurring.

As the New Statesman underscores in a piece about sharentings most extreme forms on YouTube, the responsibility lies with parents themselves to decide whether or how they should film their children. The consequences of this lack of regulation will most likely become apparent in a decade, when YouTubes child celebrities have grown up.

Sharenting law scholar Steinberg predicts: At some point in the future, courts may weigh in, framing the question not as a moral one but as a legal one, asking, Where does a parents right to share end and a childs right to privacy begin?

Another question to ask: How important is a childs right to attention?

An incredible piece in the Harvard Business Journal titled What Captures Your Attention Controls Your Life offers an illustrative anecdote that slices right through any justification a parent might make for how children prefer sharenting over parenting. The author Kare Anderson explains how she was once hired by Disney executives to figure out exactly whatof all the magical wonders and costumed characters and rides and sugary delightscaptivated toddlers and infants visiting the theme park the most.

[A]fter a couple of hours of close observation, Anderson wrote, we realized that what most captured the young childrens attention wasnt Disney-conjured magic. Instead it was their parents cell phones, especially when the parents were using them. Those kids clearly understood what held their parents attentionand they wanted it too.

In one of the most viral blog pieces ever written on the topic, Rachel Macy Stafford dives clear-eyed into the mindset of a child and what translates to them as love and attention. Its not a photo. Its definitely not a half-hour spent taking a photo, editing it, and then uploading it. And my God, it is not monetization.

Called How to Miss a Childhood, her manifesto speaks to parents and their relationship to their son or daughter.

Look in to her eyes when she speaks to you Your uninterrupted gaze is love to your child The gift of your total presence is love to your child Hold her hand, rub his back, listen to her heart beat, and smooth his hair.

No one sees any of this. No one likes it. The experience certainly cant be shared, monetized, preserved, documented, or tweaked with a filter. No one might even know the moment ever existed. No one, that is, except for parent and child.

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