Meanings
- neologismuncountableThe practice of parents documenting their child's upbringing on social media, typically by posting photographs, anecdotes, etc.
On a philosophical level, sharenting exposes children to the larger digital world without their consent, robbing them of a kind of agency.
2019 September 11, Hua Hsu, “Instagram, Facebook, and the Perils of 'Sharenting'”, in The New Yorker2 more examples
Others feel that the advantages of sharenting far outweigh any negatives. In an increasingly fragmented society, social media allows us to stay connected to friends and family, and get support that for many is not easily accessible.
2013 May 18, Nione Meakin, “The pros and cons of 'sharenting'”, in The GuardianThen there’s “sharenting.” Today, many children’s social media presence starts with a sonogram, posted, obviously, without consent.
2019 June 5, Anya Kamenetz, “The Problem With ‘Sharenting’”, in The New York Times
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of sharent
Origin
Blend of share + parenting, coined by researchers at the University of Michigan.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Hungarian szülői túlposztolás (from túl- and posztol)
- szülői túlposztolás (from túl- and posztol)the practice of parents documenting their child's upbringing on social media, typically by posting photographs, anecdotes, etc.
Polish sharenting
- sharentingthe practice of parents documenting their child's upbringing on social media, typically by posting photographs, anecdotes, etc.
Russian ше́рентинг
- ше́рентинг (šérenting)the practice of parents documenting their child's upbringing on social media, typically by posting photographs, anecdotes, etc.
Ukrainian ше́рентинг, ше́рентінг
- ше́рентинг (šérentynh)the practice of parents documenting their child's upbringing on social media, typically by posting photographs, anecdotes, etc.
- ше́рентінг (šérentinh)the practice of parents documenting their child's upbringing on social media, typically by posting photographs, anecdotes, etc.
Cite this entry
sharenting. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sharenting
“sharenting.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sharenting. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sharenting,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sharenting.
Source: sharenting on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.