Dangers of Sharenting

In Autism Eye (Issue 55, 2024), Elaine Nicholson MBE examines the psychological and safeguarding risks of sharenting — the practice of parents sharing detailed information about their children on social media. Drawing on over 20 years of specialist autism counselling, she highlights how public exposure of autistic children’s personal experiences can lead to anxiety, shame, masking, identity conflict, and long-term mental health consequences in adulthood. Through powerful case studies, the article explores issues of consent, online safety, bullying risk, and the impact on autistic identity, urging parents to carefully consider privacy, dignity, and safeguarding in the digital age.