Privacy • Consent • Digital Boundaries
Don't Tag Me
Why Sharenting Could Be the Biggest Parenting Mistake of the Digital Age
Why Sharenting Could Be the Biggest Parenting Mistake of the Digital Age
Real lines from the manuscript.
“Consent is not a checkbox. It is not implied by a smile or the absence of protest.”
“Because childhood is not content ~ it is becoming.”
“Devices are powerful. But they are tools ~ not teachers.”
“Privacy is not about secrecy ~ it is about dignity.”
“They’re tagged, tracked, and displayed in ways that many of us never imagined when we first became parents — or teachers.”
“We can share moments without turning them into stories we monetize. We can be proud ~ and private.”
“But that assumption ignores a deeper truth ~ children are people, not content.”
“Platforms are not built for children to control their early digital footprints.”
“And everyday children now live under the quiet tension of being watched.”
“What was once a simple photo shared between friends can quietly become a permanent part of a child’s digital footprint.”
“…Is this moment mine to share?”
“But when children are named, pictured, or tagged, their private lives become part of a narrative they did not shape.”
All snippets © 2025 J.L. Sterling, B.Ed.
Evidence-informed points presented in the manuscript.
Practical pages adapted from the book for home and classroom use.
Set respectful, calm guardrails for posting, tagging, devices at home, bedtime screens, and consent language.
Download PDFFive quick questions to check consent, context, dignity, and future impact before sharing.
Download PDFFive honest reflections from a child’s perspective on safety, dignity, and being turned into content.
Download PDFJ.L. Sterling, B.Ed, is an Australian educator and author whose work invites families and schools to practice consent, calm routines, and digital dignity. Don't Tag Me blends lived experience with a grounded look at research to help parents pause before they post.