Parents who frequently share photos of their children on social media tend to have a more permissive and confident parenting style and introduce their children to social media at a younger age. This is shown by a survey by researchers at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Indiana University Bloomington .
493 parents who regularly use social media and have children under the age of ten were interviewed.
Parents underestimate dangers
According to the results, social media-savvy parents also tend to post on more public networks, raising concerns about privacy and security, says UCF study leader Mary Jean Amon. The results would also suggest that many parents make little distinction between sharing photos of their children and general photo sharing on social media, and hence the unique risks of sharing children's photos online and engaging children in social media at a young age underestimate.
Although the Children's Online Privacy Act in the US has many rules to protect children, the survey shows that many children interact with social media at a young age. Social media platforms may only be used from the age of 13. Without a verification system, it's not uncommon to see kids watching with their own YouTube channel or TikTok accounts.
About a third of parents with children ages seven to nine report that their offspring uses social media apps on phones or tablets. About half of parents with children ages 10 to 12 report the same thing.
The study also shows that most parents feel comfortable sharing photos and sharing those of others. They assume that their children will be happy about the photos they post instead of being embarrassed by them.
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Source: press release
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