During each holiday period, it’s normal to want to post your magical moments with your family online. Our news feeds quickly fill up with little faces amazed by the activities they got to experience. This common, spontaneous, and well-intentioned practice has a name: sharenting (share + parenting). Check out our tips for better posting habits, while respecting your children's privacy.
What is sharenting?
Sharenting refers to the habit of sharing photos, videos, and anecdotes of one's children online. On social media, in particular, this data can be sensitive. We’re here to explain why.
5 best practices for responsible sharenting
We are inspired in particular by the recommendations of the Ligue des droits et libertés, as well as the advice of Bouygues Telecom. Here is a list of best practices for responsible sharenting:
1. Know the risks of sharing images online
Before posting, it is useful to keep in mind that photos shared online can be reused out of their original context. Multiple sources report the growing risks of misappropriation of images of children. The Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés stresses that photos of young people can be misused for malicious purposes such as:
- Fake profiles
- Montages
- Reuse in a sexual content
According to a report published by the Fondation pour l’Enfance in October 2024 (L’IA générative, nouvelle arme de la pédocriminalité), 50% of the images or videos of children shared on pedophile forums come from posts made by said children’s parents on social networks.
Being informed of these realities allows you to adopt sharp reflexes, such as those mentioned in the next sections.
2. Raise awareness of the digital footprint
Each post contributes, little by little, to building a child's digital identity. Seeing as children are not yet able to understand all the issues related to this visibility, it is important to anticipate the long-term impact of what we share. Asking how the images shared might be perceived later by the child helps to preserve their intimacy and privacy, while providing them with a respectful digital environment.
Marie-Pier Jolicoeur, a doctoral student in children's law at Université Laval and the University of Ottawa, has worked on the issue behind the creation of the non-consensual digital footprint. "At a young age, children do not yet understand all the issues associated with creating an online digital footprint."
"Asking for the child's consent before sharing their photo in a group is a good practice to respect their privacy, which also serves as an example when the young person is old enough to share their own photos," says Emmanuelle Parent from the Centre pour l’intelligence émotionnelle en ligne (CIEL).
3. Limit the audience and opt for private messaging
Keep photos of children for close family, or create private groups on Facebook and other social media platforms. Avoid public profiles and accounts, and protect your accounts by tightening privacy settings.
Also consider sending photos via private messaging, email, or a shared album, rather than on your news feed. As a security measure, for example, you have the option to limit who can contact you on Instagram.
4. Blur or turn their face away
Use digital stickers to cover your child’s face or snap photos from behind or from a distance to limit the possibility of identifying them. Let your creativity run wild!
5. Choose shared photos carefully
Choose flattering images of your child and make sure they are not wearing sheer or light clothing. Avoid photos that could be humiliating or photos that show the child in a vulnerable position, such as if they are sick or upset.
Finally, remove any details that would make it easy to identify your child, because of the risk of fraud or pedophilia: uniforms, address, street name, school name, or places of sporting events.
Be vigilant when it comes to sharing memories online
Posting your memories of holidays or festive events online doesn’t have to infringe on your child’s privacy.
By adopting simple practices, you can continue to celebrate and document these precious moments. The main thing is to pay attention and ask yourself the right questions before posting.
You can also rely on the tools created by Videotron and the Centre pour l’intelligence émotionnelle en ligne (CIEL), such as the Digital Compass. These tools were designed to help you start a friendly discussion with your children about their digital habits.
Don't hesitate to pass on these tips to your loved ones!
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Publié 18-03-2026
Version 1.0
