As parents, we’re documenting more memories than any generation before us. But somewhere between capturing moments and posting them, an important question has emerged: Who are these memories really for?
Every parent knows this- there is NO perfect photo on the first try! In one, your eyes are closed; in the second, your elder one is yawning; in the next one is pulling a piggy face look; then there’s one where your spouse is super uninterested, and then there are dozens of them where you’re blurred (literally and metaphorically!) But all of these fails make the memory stronger and richer. To think of it that we grew up as a generation spending a 7-day holiday with one film roll, i.e. 36 photos. All had to be the best, no room for mess-ups! Pleasant memories, right?!
But the current generation of parents has one other thing to worry about. The paradox of do I post this or not? I’ve asked myself that question a hundred times over the past decade. Should everything we click go back on the Gram? I know the answer is different for each one of us and I am conscious of it. But there are certain things in between that we are missing. Let me explain.
As someone who’s built a parenting platform on social media. I live and breathe the digital world. I share ideas, opinions, hacks, and hard-earned parenting lessons. But when it comes to sharing pictures of my children, I’ve drawn a clear line and stuck to it. And I don’t have an ounce of regret or doubt in my decision.
When I founded Kidsstoppress.com, 11 years ago, I made a conscious decision to never share images of my daughters that revealed their identity or could one day embarrass them.
No matter how cute or viral-worthy the moment. It wasn’t easy, especially when brands and followers asked, “But why don’t we ever see your kids?” I explained why my answer was a steady No. Was, is and will be!
This week, Netflix’s new documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing brought all those feelings rushing back. The film unpacks the disturbing story of Piper Rockelle, a tween YouTuber with over 10 million followers. Behind her glittery, fun-loving content stood a mother who allegedly encouraged sexualised content to rack up views, many from adult male followers.
It’s a gut punch. But it’s also a wake-up call.
We posted about it on Instagram, and I saw so many messages and DMs relating to this.
The reality is that it isn’t these A-listers on YouTube or Instagram. It’s happening in homes around the world. In schools. At birthday parties. It’s called sharenting, a term that describes the oversharing of children’s lives online.
When we first started talking about sharenting at Kidsstoppress, the response was often, “What’s the harm? They’re my children.” A decade ago, conversations around children’s digital footprints, consent, facial recognition, AI, and online privacy felt far too futuristic for most parents.
Today, that conversation has completely changed.
Just a few weeks ago, one of our posts on sharenting was reshared by Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation. It wasn’t the repost that mattered to me as much as what it represented. A conversation we started years ago in India is now part of a much larger global movement around childhood, technology and children’s rights online.
Whether it’s governments discussing age-appropriate design, Apple introducing stronger child safety features, the G7 releasing its first-ever principles on protecting children online, or researchers around the world questioning how much of children’s lives should exist online forever.
The world is finally catching up to a conversation many of us have quietly been having for years.
I’ve walked into events where my daughters were asked to pose for social media. I’ve said no, even if it meant missing out on coverage or collabs. Over the years, they’ve learnt to quietly step behind me when a camera’s out. It’s become second nature. Have I lost campaigns because of this? Yes. Do I regret it? Not for a second.
We assume social media is harmless, but the truth is, not all content is kid-friendly. I’ve seen viral trends like “shut up and bend over” take over reels, and young children mimic them without grasping what they’re doing. As a parent, I feel it’s our job to protect our kids not just in real life, but in digital spaces too. That includes their photos, their milestones, and most importantly, their right to privacy.
So I’ll continue to show up. I’ll continue to create content, educate parents, work with technology companies and speak wherever these conversations are happening. But one thing won’t change.
My children will never become my content strategy.
Because they deserve something every child deserves, the right to grow up, make mistakes, change, evolve and discover who they are without every moment being documented for an audience they never chose.
Maybe that’s what conscious parenting in the digital age really looks like.
Not saying no to technology. Not saying yes to everything either.
Simply remembering that our children are people before they are posts. And remember, click photographs to cherish and preserve certain memories. Not everything we click has to make its way into the gram.
Let’s think twice before posting.
Let’s ask ourselves: Are we building memories, or a digital footprint our kids didn’t ask for?
And with that, it’s a wrap on this week’s editorial. Also, if you like our newsletter every Saturday, drop me some replies or reach me on my Instagram handles- @mansi.zaveri and @kidsstoppress.
Ciao!
Till then, Happy Parenting!
Mansi Zaveri,
Mom of 2 & Founder- Kidsstoppress.com
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