To Share or Not to Share: Adolescents' Experience With Sharenting.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: To Share or Not to Share: Adolescents' Experience With Sharenting.
Authors: Peleg, Ora, Hadar‐Shoval, Dorit, Hadar, Efrat
Source: Children & Society. Sep2025, Vol. 39 Issue 5, p950-961. 12p.
Subjects: Social media, Digital technology, Group identity, Qualitative research, Jews, Parent-child relationships, Interviewing, Questionnaires, Parent attitudes, Israelis, Experience, Attitude (Psychology), Thematic analysis, Arabs, Research methodology, Phenomenology, Adolescence
Abstract: In an age where the networked nature of online life, including social media, influences adolescents' identities, sharenting (parents posting information about their children online) ignites parent–adolescent tension, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of its impact on family dynamics. This qualitative‐phenomenological study allows observation of the perspective of Israeli Jewish and Arab adolescents regarding their parents' sharenting. The sample included 31 Israeli Arab and Jewish adolescents (20 girls and 11 boys), ages 14–18, who were interviewed mainly by telephone or via Zoom. The results revealed that most participants experienced ambivalent feelings about their parents' sharenting, acknowledging a difference between their own online identity and the one their parents created for them. Many felt that their parents generally depicted them more positively than they perceived themselves to be, contributing to this ambivalence. For some, sharenting evoked negative feelings and conflicts with their parents, particularly when they felt they had limited control over the content shared. This lack of control sometimes led to discomfort and tension in how they were represented online. Despite these concerns, most participants did not wish for sharenting to change, and many were often unaware of their parents' posts, as they were shared on networks the adolescents did not use. Additionally, it was noted that most Arab adolescents exhibited acceptance of parental sharenting, while most Jewish adolescents preferred that their parents consult with them before posting. We suggest that sharenting serves as the online arena for real‐life adolescent identity development and adolescent–parent relationships. The findings can aid parents and educators in comprehending its effects and implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Children & Society is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Description
Abstract:In an age where the networked nature of online life, including social media, influences adolescents' identities, sharenting (parents posting information about their children online) ignites parent–adolescent tension, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of its impact on family dynamics. This qualitative‐phenomenological study allows observation of the perspective of Israeli Jewish and Arab adolescents regarding their parents' sharenting. The sample included 31 Israeli Arab and Jewish adolescents (20 girls and 11 boys), ages 14–18, who were interviewed mainly by telephone or via Zoom. The results revealed that most participants experienced ambivalent feelings about their parents' sharenting, acknowledging a difference between their own online identity and the one their parents created for them. Many felt that their parents generally depicted them more positively than they perceived themselves to be, contributing to this ambivalence. For some, sharenting evoked negative feelings and conflicts with their parents, particularly when they felt they had limited control over the content shared. This lack of control sometimes led to discomfort and tension in how they were represented online. Despite these concerns, most participants did not wish for sharenting to change, and many were often unaware of their parents' posts, as they were shared on networks the adolescents did not use. Additionally, it was noted that most Arab adolescents exhibited acceptance of parental sharenting, while most Jewish adolescents preferred that their parents consult with them before posting. We suggest that sharenting serves as the online arena for real‐life adolescent identity development and adolescent–parent relationships. The findings can aid parents and educators in comprehending its effects and implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:09510605
DOI:10.1111/chso.12963