Study Buddy (Challenger): Harmless fun? Think twice before sharing your children’s lives online
- It is important to protect youth in the age of ‘sharenting’ because you never know what could happen in the future
- This page is for students who want to take their reading comprehension to the next level with difficult vocabulary and questions to test their inference skills
“Sharenting” is the trend of parents frequently posting their child’s pictures on social media. Photo: Shutterstock Content provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] In an increasingly interconnected world, what happens when parenting goes online? The phenomenon of “sharenting” (a portmanteau of “sharing” and “parenting”) is not new, but its growing popularity amid the rise of social media platforms is increasingly raising privacy concerns.
[2] A recent survey by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong found that more than 80 per cent of city parents had shared details of their children’s lives on social media, with almost 30 per cent having never asked for permission before doing so. Although over 70 per cent of the youngsters surveyed hoped their parents would stop sharenting and almost 30 per cent said they hated their lives being displayed online, the phenomenon shows no sign of abating.
[3] Proudly sharing your children’s milestones and achievements online may seem fun and harmless. Still, as they come of age, it is worth considering how sharenting may shape their digital identity and intrude upon their privacy. Parents may be unintentionally compromising their children’s interests and safety by divulging their personal data or identity information online. Unsurprisingly, a global bank estimated back in 2018 that sharenting could lead to 7.4 million cases of identity fraud worldwide each year by 2030.
[4] Also, photographs or videos posted on social media platforms can and do end up on sites that share paedophilic or pornographic content. In 2015, regulators in Australia were already warning that up to half of the material shared on such websites could be traced back to innocent photos originally posted on social media or family blogs.
[5] Although there is the momentary excitement of sharing your children’s lives online, which may attract attention and “likes”, it is vital to bear in mind the privacy rights, dignity and feelings of your children. In the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong survey, over 40 per cent of the students polled felt embarrassed by their parents’ posts, and 72.2 per cent of them would rather not have any such content shared on social media platforms.
[6] These findings echo my concerns about the privacy risks relating to sharenting. In this digital age, parents should understand the privacy challenges faced by the younger generations and seek to foster a safe and trustworthy digital environment for them. After all, digital footprints are difficult to erase completely, and our children’s well-being should always come first.
[7] Show respect for your children’s rights and seek their views before posting any material relating to them. Engaging children in discussions about sharenting not only promotes healthy parent-child communication but can also help children develop an understanding of the importance of safeguarding their personal data in the digital realm.
[8] We live in an ever-evolving digital era in which novel and immersive sharing platforms are continually emerging. Parents have a responsibility to navigate this complex digital landscape with caution amid the expanding phenomenon of sharenting.
Source: South China Morning Post, January 25
Questions
1. What is sharenting based on your understanding of paragraph 1?
2. The survey mentioned in paragraph 2 suggests that …
A. there is a disconnect between parents’ and children’s views on sharenting.
B. Hong Kong parents are concerned about how their children feel about their photos being shared online.
C. sharenting is not a prevalent practice in Hong Kong.
D. none of the above
3. Find a phrase in paragraph 3 that refers to “entering a point in someone’s life when they are legally recognised as an adult”.
4. In paragraph 3, what is the estimated impact of sharenting on identity theft?
5. How can photographs and videos posted online be exploited according to paragraph 4?
6. According to paragraph 5, a majority of respondents …
A. were sympathetic towards their parents’ behaviour on social media.
B. felt that their freedom of speech was not taken into consideration.
C. preferred parents not share any of their photos online.
D. information not given
7. What is the main concern expressed in paragraph 6 regarding sharenting?
8. What approach does the writer suggest for parents regarding sharenting according to paragraph 7?
A. Share as much content as possible to promote healthy parent-child communication
B. Embrace a balanced approach that respects children’s privacy and allows for sharing
C. Seek children’s opinions after posting material relating to them
D. Limit their children’s digital presence to protect their privacy.
9. What is the aim of this article?
Answers
1. It is the practice of parents sharing content about their children online, often on social media platforms. (accept all similar answers)
2. A
3. come of age
4. Sharenting could lead to 7.4 million cases of identity fraud worldwide each year by 2030.
5. They can end up on sites that share paedophilic or pornographic content.
6. C
7. the privacy risks associated with sharenting, particularly in the context of the digital age especially since digital footprints are difficult to erase completely (accept all similar answers)
8. C
9. It is to educate and raise awareness among parents about the complexities and potential pitfalls of sharenting in the digital age. (accept all reasonable answers)