“What’s happening now is that those young people who were pictured, and whose information was shared, are now growing into the age where they’re conscious of it,” Dr. Clark said, “And we’re realizing they have a digital footprint that goes back a long way.” While looking to find solutions for this problem, Dr. Clark said that telling parents to simply refrain from sharing information on social media won’t be enough and it will be extreme and unrealistic.
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Instead, she shared, “If you’re a parent, think about when you were 13-years-old, and now think about what you wish your parents had shared or not shared online about you.” Both Stephen and Clark don’t think that the sharenting trend may not end anytime soon. “But that’s also a reason why we need to think about how we want our children to grow in this environment. And how they need to be able to know they have rights that they can protect too,” Clark added.
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At the same time, Clark doesn’t feel that digital age is detrimental. “There’s a real upside to being able to share information and to share love through social media with our extended families,” she added. “I am an oversharer, but with people who want to be shared with,” Stephens said.
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