How Much Is Too Much "Sharenting?"

Some parents, whether brand new to the game or seasoned veterans, post pictures, comments and other information about their children on Facebook and other social media networks. If these social media avenues still exist in the future, could these children have profiles littered with things such as baby bath time photos the first time they formally log-on?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

It may seem like an easy and quick way to share updates about your children with family and friends across the globe, but posting too many details and photos about them on social media could have consequences including the use of their images by predators.

“The potential deleterious consequences of ‘Sharenting’ remains to be seen,” explainedVictor Fornari, MD, director of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks. “Parents would do well to limit their use of social media and not disclose sensitive information, including photographs, to strangers. The potential risks may be serious, and once in cyberspace, the photographs and information might be permanently on the Internet.”

Another thing Dr. Fornari says parents should consider is the incidence of cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking and how their social media contributions may potentially add to that.

So where would you draw the line with what you share about your children online?