Kaspersky Study: Parents Who Share More Online Are Less Motivated to Practice Digital Safety
Parents who frequently share photos, videos, and personal information about their children on social media are less likely to be motivated to adopt digital safety measures, according to a new study conducted by cybersecurity company Kaspersky in collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT).
The research, titled “Small Shares, Big Risks: How Parents Assess Threats and Cope with Sharing of Children’s Data,” examined the relationship between parents’ online sharing habits and their attitudes toward digital privacy and security. The findings reveal a concerning behavioral gap in which increased online exposure of children is not accompanied by stronger efforts to protect their personal data.
The study surveyed 152 parents from Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, focusing on parents of children aged between zero and 12 years old.
More Sharing, Less Motivation for Protection
According to the research, parents who engage more frequently in “sharenting” – the practice of regularly sharing information about their children online – tend to show lower motivation to adopt protective cybersecurity measures.
Associate Professor Jiow Hee Jhee, Deputy Director of the Teaching and Learning Academy at the Singapore Institute of Technology, said the research identified a consistent relationship between increased social media sharing and reduced motivation to implement privacy safeguards.
“Our analysis showed a clear pattern: as the frequency of sharenting increases, motivation to adopt protective measures declines,” Jiow said. “This suggests a behavioral gap where greater online exposure of children is not matched by stronger efforts to safeguard their data and privacy.”
Convenience Continues to Outweigh Security
While most parents recognize the importance of protecting their family’s digital footprint, many view privacy settings and security measures as inconvenient or time-consuming.
The study found that:
87% of respondents believe limiting social media visibility to family members and close friends reduces privacy risks, yet 49% consider the process time-consuming.
80% agree that removing sharing permissions enhances privacy protection, but 40% say doing so requires too much effort.
83% believe disabling metadata and geotagging can protect privacy, while 36% view the process as overly time-consuming.
The findings highlight an ongoing tension between convenience and cybersecurity, with many parents prioritizing ease of use despite understanding the risks associated with oversharing online.
Confidence Does Not Eliminate Risk
Despite these challenges, most parents expressed confidence in their ability to manage online privacy.
More than four out of five respondents said they are capable of avoiding the disclosure of identifiable information, refraining from posting embarrassing content about their children, and restricting social media visibility to trusted audiences.
However, confidence does not necessarily translate into a sense of security. Nearly 72% of parents acknowledged that they remain vulnerable to cyber threats and hacking attempts even after adjusting privacy settings on social media platforms.
Cybersecurity Awareness Must Focus on Simplicity
According to Trishia Octaviano, Senior Manager for Cybersecurity Education in Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, the challenge lies not in awareness but in the perceived complexity of implementing security measures.
“Parents understand that digital security is important, but many perceive privacy settings and security controls as cumbersome,” Octaviano said. “Cybersecurity awareness initiatives should demonstrate that safety practices are simple and practical, helping reduce the friction that prevents people from taking action.”
Practical Steps for Safer Sharenting
In response to the findings, Kaspersky urged parents to adopt a more mindful approach to sharing family content online. The company recommends reviewing privacy settings regularly, deleting unused accounts, removing geolocation data from photos and posts, limiting public visibility, monitoring children’s online activities, and avoiding the publication of information that could reveal sensitive details about a child’s daily routine or location.
Kaspersky also encourages parents to use dedicated parental-control and digital safety tools to help manage screen time, monitor online behavior, and strengthen family cybersecurity practices.
Growing Need for Digital Parenting Education
The study concludes that as digital platforms become increasingly embedded in family life, educating parents about the long-term privacy implications of sharenting will become more important than ever.
“Parents who share more about their children online often become more comfortable with digital platforms, which can lower their perception of risk and reduce motivation to practice digital safety measures,” Jiow said. “How parents think about sharenting ultimately shapes how they protect their children’s digital privacy.”
The findings underscore the growing importance of digital parenting education as families navigate an increasingly connected world where personal information can remain online indefinitely and potentially expose children to future privacy and security risks.