Imagine feeling like you can’t even talk to your own mom. Not because you don’t love her, but because you’re terrified that your deepest thoughts, your biggest struggles, and even your most embarrassing moments will end up as a status update for all her friends to see.
This is the reality for one middle schooler who reached out on Reddit for help. Her mom, who she says is otherwise “awesome,” has been documenting her entire life on Facebook since birth, and now, as a young teen, she is feeling the weight of having absolutely no privacy.
Her story is a heartbreaking look at what happens when a parent’s desire to share online clashes with a child’s fundamental need for a private life.
Let’s read her own words, because they are incredibly powerful:
Gosh, this one really hits you right in the gut, doesn’t it? The pain in this young person’s words is just so raw. It’s clear how much she loves her mom, which makes the sense of betrayal feel even deeper.
She’s at that age where your world starts to become your own, where you’re figuring out who you are, and that process needs space. It needs privacy.
Her mom isn’t trying to be malicious. Like so many parents, she’s just incredibly proud and probably sees her Facebook page as a modern-day scrapbook. But what she’s missing is that this scrapbook is public, and her daughter is no longer a baby who can’t object. She is a person with feelings, with a right to her own story.
The fact that the OP has to sneak onto her mom’s phone just to see what’s being said about her is a sign that something is seriously broken.
“Sharenting” and the First Generation to Fight Back
This middle schooler is on the front lines of a brand-new generational battle. She’s part of the first wave of kids who are old enough to understand and push back against “sharenting” -the now-common practice of parents sharing extensive details about their children’s lives online.
While it often comes from a place of love, the consequences can be serious. As a Forbes article pointed out, this constant documentation can create a digital footprint for a child before they even know what that is. It can lead to everything from future embarrassment to very real safety concerns. This isn’t just about a few cute baby pictures.
It’s about private medical information, school grades, and arguments being broadcast to a network of a parent’s friends and acquaintances.
What’s really fascinating, and a little sad, is seeing this problem through a mother’s eyes. One Redditor, a mom of a 14-year-old, shared her own “wakeup call” when her daughter broke down in tears over a picture. It highlights a disconnect many parents have.
They see their child’s life as part of their own story to tell, without fully grasping that their child is becoming the author of their own story. And as an author, you get to decide what you publish.
Redditors, including teachers and fellow parents, rushed to offer advice.
Most people urged the OP to have a very direct, heartfelt conversation with her mom, using the exact words from her post.
Others warned that this could snowball into bigger problems, sharing their own painful experiences.
Some users offered more drastic, tactical advice for a mom who just wouldn’t listen.
How to Talk to a Parent About Oversharing
This is such a tricky conversation to have. Your parent isn’t trying to hurt you, so it’s easy for them to get defensive. If you find yourself in this situation, the advice from the Reddit community is gold.
Start with love. Remind your parent how much you appreciate them. Something like, “Mom, I know you’re proud of me, and that means so much.” This softens the conversation and lets them know you’re not attacking them.
Then, use “I” statements to explain how their actions make you feel. Instead of saying “You post too much,” try “I feel like I don’t have any privacy when things about me go online without me knowing.” This is about your feelings, not their actions, which makes it harder to argue with.
And if all else fails, it may be time to set a boundary. Explain that you won’t be able to share personal things with them if you can’t trust that those things will stay private. It sounds harsh, but sometimes it’s the only way to make a parent understand the seriousness of the situation.
A Turning Point
This young person’s post is a sign of the times. The kids who were the first subjects of “sharenting” are growing up, and they are finding their voices. They are asking for a right that every person deserves: the right to control their own narrative. We can only hope this mom listens, because her relationship with her amazing daughter depends on it.
Have you ever had to deal with a parent who overshares online? How did you handle it? Let’s talk about it.
