Ah, oversharing about your personal life online. We’ve all seen it, and most of us have done it a time or two as well. But when it comes to our kids, oversharing on social media can be particularly risky. Here’s everything you need to know about the dangers of oversharing online and how to help your child avoid it.
Oversharing is saying something personal or inappropriate, either in the wrong setting or to the wrong person.
For example, it might be perfectly fine for your teen to discuss a sensitive family situation one-on-one with their best friend. But you may not want them telling their entire homeroom. And you almost certainly don’t want them blabbing about it on their Instagram.
Kids may not be aware that they’re oversharing — they may simply want to talk about their experiences with their friends, without realizing that the information is public or can be easily screenshotted and shared.
In other instances, kids may overshare because they’re actually being scammed or swindled. A scammer might convince their victim to share personal details, like their passwords or bank information.
The act of oversharing is as old as time, but the digital era has introduced new risks to the behavior. Here are some of the dangers oversharing poses to kids:
The uncomfortable truth is that it’s shockingly easy for kids to overshare online. Here are some ways your child might fall into the TMI trap:
Captions. Photos and videos. Stories. Social media is where your mind probably goes first when you think of oversharing online. And rightfully so — it’s incredibly easy to overshare on social media posts.
One way this can happen is through sadfishing, or oversharing about their personal life with the goal of eliciting sympathy. Sadfishing can have unintended consequences, like making a situation seem more dire than it actually is or feeding into a child’s attention-seeking behavior. Not to mention, they may regret the post once their emotions calm down.
Your child’s social media bio can also divulge personal information, even if their account is private. Including things like their age, where they live, their school, and even hobbies can put them at risk.
If your child’s accounts are set to public, anyone can view what they post — from YouTube to Pinterest. This means content meant for a small group of followers could end up being seen by the wrong audience.
For example, if your teen uses Reddit, their comment history is publicly visible. While they may use the platform to connect with friends or share interests, a stranger could piece together personal details if your teen frequently posts about their location, friends, family, or health information.
It’s easy to assume that text messages and direct messages are only visible between the people on the thread. But anyone in the group can take a screenshot and forward it to others or post it on social media.
It’s common for people to post about what they’re doing while they’re doing it. This is especially problematic on places like Instagram Stories and Snapchat, because other users are likely to see it in real time. If the post includes their location, it can put them at risk because it reveals their whereabouts or a place they frequent.
From your child’s profile picture to the images they share on public accounts, the things in their background can reveal a lot about their personal life.
A photo or video while on campus can provide clues about where they go to school. Posters on their bedroom wall or knickknacks on their shelf can point to their interests. A picture in the front yard with the house number visible behind them can help someone figure out where they live.
With all the risks and the potential for kids to accidentally overshare, it might feel tempting to shut down online access altogether. We understand. Instead, focus on teaching your child to avoid sharing certain types of sensitive details online:
The best way parents can address oversharing is by being proactive and having conversations with their kids before it becomes an issue. Here are some tips for discussing oversharing with your child:
Oversharing online poses significant risks to kids. It’s important to educate your child about the dangers of oversharing and teach them to not disclose personal information online. You should also help them understand the surprising ways they may be oversharing without even realizing it. BrightCanary can help you keep an eye on your child’s online activity by monitoring their social media and text messages so you can watch out for oversharing, signs of cyberbullying, and more. Download the BrightCanary app and start your free trial today.
