BBC reports that children face heightened risks of harassment, identity theft, and online exploitation due to parents posting their photos on social media, according to new research from the University of Southampton.The study, which surveyed more than 1,000 UK parents, found that 45% regularly share images of their children, with one in six reporting that their child has already experienced harm. Lead researcher Pamela Ugwudike warned that "sharenting" exposes children not only to cyberbullying but also to long-term risks such as identity fraud.Privacy controls on social platforms are often overestimated, with tagging and resharing bypassing restrictions, according to NSPCC online policy manager Rani Govender. The Internet Watch Foundation also raised alarms that criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to generate explicit imagery from otherwise innocent photos, fueling concerns over sexual extortion.Experts argue that while parents may intend to celebrate milestones, they are inadvertently creating digital vulnerabilities that could affect their children for years to come.
