Sharenting risks prompt new digital safety tools for parents

The phenomenon of ‘sharenting’—the practice of parents sharing photos and information about their children on social media—is raising significant privacy and safety concerns. Data from the Vodafone Foundation indicates that 47% of parents boast about their children's photos online, while 51% share information that can be used to locate a child. Furthermore, 27% of parents have shared inappropriate or revealing images of their children.

The Police of the Czech Republic warns that these shared images can become tools for cyberbullying, blackmail, or other forms of exploitation, often due to parents underestimating the long-term consequences. While only 11% of parents ask their children for permission before posting, 24% never do so.

In response to these risks, a new online tool called RODIcheck has been launched. This initiative, involving Vodafone and the Czech Police, allows parents to upload up to 10 photos of their children to receive an analysis of why certain images may be unsafe to share publicly.