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

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.