Using your kids for clout or likes may be helping your self esteem but it is ruining theirs.

By Sarah Bell

Clinical Child psychologist

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, and its influence has permeated every aspect of our daily routine. As social media becomes more pervasive, people are using it as a tool to gain attention and achieve success. One such trend that has been gaining momentum in recent years is parents using their children to gain clout and likes on social media. However, this trend is not without its negatives, and in this article, we will discuss why using your children for clout and likes on social media can be harmful.

• Exploitation and invasion of privacy

When parents use their children for clout and likes, they often end up exploiting their children. Posting pictures of your child's private life, daily routine, and personal moments without their consent is an invasion of their privacy. Children are not yet capable of understanding the implications of social media, and parents should protect their privacy and personal lives. Moreover, some parents share too much information about their children, including their physical appearance, which can lead to unwanted attention, harassment, or even stalking.

• Putting your child in danger

When you share personal information and images of your children on social media, you are putting their safety at risk. You never know who is watching and lurking on the internet, and when you post pictures and videos of your child, you are inviting predators and other malicious individuals to take advantage of your child. Furthermore, when you post your location and your child's whereabouts, you are exposing them to the possibility of kidnapping, identity theft, or cyberbullying.

• Affecting your child's self-esteem and self-worth

Using your child for clout and likes on social media can have a significant impact on their self-esteem and self-worth. When parents post only the highlights of their child's life, it can make them feel like they always have to be perfect and always have to live up to unrealistic expectations. Children may feel like they are not enough, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

• Misrepresentation of parenting

When parents use their children for clout and likes, they are often presenting a distorted view of parenting. They make it seem like parenting is all about presenting the perfect image and receiving validation from strangers on the internet. In reality, parenting is messy, unpredictable, and not always picture-perfect. When parents portray only the good side of parenting, it creates an unrealistic expectation for new parents and can cause them to feel inadequate when they don't live up to the standard presented online.

• Future consequences

When children grow up and become more aware of social media, they may feel embarrassed or humiliated by the images and posts their parents have shared in the past. It can negatively impact their relationships and future career prospects. Additionally, their digital footprint may follow them throughout their life, and they may have to deal with the consequences of their parents' actions online.

In conclusion, using your children for clout and likes on social media can be harmful in many ways. Parents should prioritize their children's safety, privacy, and personal lives above the need for attention and validation from strangers online. While it may be tempting to share every moment of your child's life on social media, parents must consider the potential long-term effects on their children. It is essential to balance the desire to share with the need to protect your children's privacy and well-being.

• Bullying

One of the most common ways that children bully others is by using social media to spread rumors, share embarrassing photos, or ridicule someone publicly. Parents who post pictures or videos of their children on social media open them up to this type of behavior. Children who are seen as "different" or "other" are more likely to be targets of bullying. Posting images of your child's personal life and daily routine can lead to their being singled out and bullied by peers who view the images.

Furthermore, as children grow up, they may start to feel embarrassed or humiliated by the images and posts their parents have shared in the past. This embarrassment can cause them to become self-conscious and withdrawn, leading to further bullying and negative social consequences. Another aspect to consider is that once a picture or video is posted online, it is difficult to control who sees it or shares it. This means that even if a small percentage of parents use their children for social media clout or likes, the majority of children who are not used for this purpose may still find the content and use it to embarrass or bully your child. Once the content is online, it is challenging to remove it, making it more challenging to prevent bullying.