Topic 3: My Life as A Hashtag

About this episode

This episode explores the impact of parents sharing their children's lives online and its effects on child development and identity formation.

From the moment a child is born, their life is often documented and shared online. But what happens when that digital footprint starts to shape their reality? In this eye-opening episode of Breaking Formation , hosts Merryl Tengesdal, Col, USAF (ret.), and Shea Phinney, MFT, dive deep into the phenomenon of "sharenting"—parents sharing their children's lives on social media. This conversation goes beyond just embarrassing baby photos. Shea breaks down the psychological impact of growing up online, explaining how a parent's relationship with their phone can affect a child's brain development and attachment style. From the "secure" to the "anxious" attachment, discover how digital distractions might be rewiring the way the next generation connects with the world. Merryl and Shea also tackle the tough questions: How does constant documentation affect a teenager's identity formation? What are the safety risks of sharing too much information online? How can parents respect their child's privacy while still celebrating memories? What practical steps can kids take to assert their boundaries respectfully? Whether you're a parent navigating the digital age or a young person trying to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Merryl Tengesdal, Shea Phinney

Topics covered

• sharenting
• digital footprint
• child development
• identity formation
• privacy
• social media

Keywords

• sharenting
• digital age
• child psychology
• attachment styles
• social media risks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Breaking Formation, USAF

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