A joint study by Kaspersky and the Singapore Institute of Technology reveals that parents who share more about their children online are less motivated to adopt digital safety practices. The research focused on the habit of “sharenting,” which involves parents frequently posting photos, videos, and detailed information about their children on social media platforms.
The study, titled “Small Shares, Big Risks: How Parents Assess Threats and Cope with Sharing of Children’s Data,” examined the relationship between online sharing behaviors and attitudes toward privacy. Researchers found that as the frequency of sharing increases, the motivation to implement protective measures declines. This indicates a behavioral gap where increased online exposure is not accompanied by stronger efforts to safeguard data.
The Conflict Between Convenience and Security
According to the findings, parents are generally aware of the need to secure their family’s privacy on social media, but they find the necessary security actions troublesome. While 87% of respondents agree that limiting visibility to family and close friends reduces risks, 49% find this process time-consuming. Furthermore, 80% believe that removing sharing permissions protects privacy, but 40% state that it requires too much effort.
“Humans are hardwired to prioritise convenience and immediate rewards. In the digital world, this means we default to app settings because changing them requires effort.”
Trishia Octaviano, Senior Manager of Cybersecurity Education for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky
Statistical Insights on Digital Safety Practices
The research highlighted a clear gap between awareness and action regarding digital safety practices. For instance, 83% of surveyed parents believe that turning off metadata and geotagging protects privacy, yet 36% think doing so is too time-consuming. The study analyzed how these sharing habits correlate with the adoption of digital safety practices among parents.
The data is based on 152 online responses collected between mid-October 2025 and February 2026. Respondents included parents of children aged 0 to 12 years from Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Parental Confidence Versus Vulnerability
The survey showed that over 80% of parents feel confident in their ability to keep identifiable information off their accounts and restrict post visibility. However, 72% of parents believe they remain vulnerable to hackers even after adjusting their privacy settings. This highlights a persistent concern over external threats despite taking personal precautions.
“Parents who share more about their children online often become more comfortable with digital platforms, which can lower their perception of risk.”
Associate Professor Jiow Hee Jhee, Deputy Director of the Teaching and Learning Academy at SIT
Recommended Steps for Family Privacy
To help families manage their digital footprint, security experts recommend several practical measures. Parents should regularly review privacy settings on active accounts and delete unused profiles. It is also important to disable geolocation features and remove metadata from shared photos and videos.
Additionally, parents can use dedicated parental control tools to monitor online activities and restrict inappropriate content. Ultimately, educating parents on the risks of sharenting is essential to encourage better digital safety practices.
