The practice of constantly recording children’s lives with photos and videos, especially in the context of school and other activities, is often referred to as “surveillance parenting” or “sharenting.” “Sharenting” is a term coined by blending “sharing” and “parenting” and refers to the frequent sharing of a child’s personal information and images online by their parents or guardians. This can include posting pictures and videos on social media platforms, blogs, or other online platforms.
In the context of schools, when teachers or administrators engage in a similar practice of recording students’ activities and sharing them online or with parents, it might be referred to as “surveillance schooling” or “educational surveillance.” This term highlights the potential privacy concerns and implications of constantly recording and sharing students’ experiences without their explicit consent.
Both “sharenting” and “surveillance parenting/schooling” raise important questions about children’s privacy, consent, and the long-term effects of having a significant portion of their lives documented and shared online.
Appealing to vanity
There can be an aspect of vanity associated with the practice of constantly recording and sharing children’s lives through photos and videos. In some cases, parents or guardians might engage in “sharenting” to showcase their own parenting skills, gain social validation or recognition, and create a curated online image of their family life. This desire for likes, comments, and approval from others on social media platforms can lead to a focus on presenting a picture-perfect version of their family, which may not necessarily reflect the full reality.
Similarly, when teachers or schools engage in recording and sharing students’ activities, there might be a desire to showcase the school’s achievements, highlight their teaching methods, or present a positive image to parents and the community. This can also be driven by a sense of pride and a desire to be seen as successful educators.
The constant pose
Children often mimic what they observe in their environment, including the behaviour of adults around them. If they frequently see adults taking pictures and posing for photos, they may naturally start emulating this behaviour, even at a young age. Additionally, as technology has become more prevalent and accessible, children are growing up in a digital age where capturing and sharing moments through photos and videos is the norm.
Children are also often eager to please and seek attention from their caregivers and other adults. When they notice that posing for pictures gets them positive attention, praise, or even rewards like treats or toys, they are more likely to engage in this behaviour.
It’s important to strike a balance between capturing special moments and allowing children to simply enjoy experiences without the pressure of posing for photos. Encouraging candid and natural interactions, focusing on the experience itself rather than just capturing the perfect picture, and respecting a child’s autonomy in deciding when and how they want to be photographed can contribute to a healthier approach to documenting their lives.
The ‘highlight reel’ effect
The practice of constantly recording and sharing curated moments of children’s lives through photos and videos can contribute to the creation of a somewhat artificial or idealized version of their experiences. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “highlight reel” effect, where only the most positive and picturesque moments are shared, giving the impression that a person’s life is always happy, exciting, and without challenges.
This curated presentation on social media or other platforms can create an unrealistic perception of reality. It might not accurately reflect the full spectrum of emotions, experiences, and challenges that children and their families encounter in their day-to-day lives. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and pressure to maintain a certain image, both for parents who share these moments and for others who consume these posts.
It’s important for parents and guardians to be mindful of the potential impact of “sharenting” and consider how their sharing practices might influence their child’s perception of reality, their sense of privacy, and their ability to develop a healthy relationship with social media and online platforms as they grow older. Striking a balance between sharing positive moments and respecting the child’s need for privacy and autonomy can help create a more authentic and balanced online representation of their lives.
The monitored life
There are some who have raised alarm bells surrounding this practice, saying that it is a preparation for the full monitoring of citizens. While technology is evolving rapidly, the development of such a fully monitored world is not inevitable. Society has the agency to shape the direction of technological advancements and determine the extent to which monitoring is accepted or resisted. Balancing the potential benefits of monitoring with the preservation of individual rights and freedoms will be a complex challenge as we navigate the future.