Think before you post: The hidden cost of ‘sharenting’

 

FROM a baby’s first smile to the first day of school, parents share life’s happiest moments online every day.

Social media has become the modern family album, helping families celebrate milestones and stay connected with loved ones. Yet every post also creates something more lasting: a child’s digital footprint.

Researchers call this growing trend “sharenting”, the practice of parents sharing photographs, videos and personal information about their children online.

While it helps preserve memories and strengthen family connections, it also raises an important question: how much should parents share, and have they considered the long-term impact on their children’s privacy?

Every parent is now a publisher

(Image: Unsplash/Godwin Bephin)

 

From a marketing perspective, every social media post tells a story about who we are and what we value. Parents are no different. Every photo contributes not only to the family’s online image but also to a child’s digital identity.

Years ago, family albums stayed on bookshelves. Today, every parent has become a publisher with an audience that extends far beyond relatives and friends. Unlike brands, however, children have no say in the online identity being created for them.

Once a photograph or personal detail is shared online, parents have little control over where it ends up.

Images can be copied, altered or reshared without permission, while a child’s digital identity begins taking shape long before they are old enough to make those decisions themselves.

Research has identified several risks associated with excessive sharenting, including permanent digital footprints, identity theft, misuse of children’s photographs, digital kidnapping, online grooming and the gradual erosion of children’s privacy.

The digital identity children inherit tomorrow is often built by the adults who post about them today.

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s most digitally connected societies, where Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp are part of everyday family life.

At the same time, our culture places great value on sharing family moments with relatives and friends. Protecting children’s privacy is therefore not just the responsibility of parents but also grandparents, relatives and others who post about them.

As legal protections surrounding parental oversharing remain limited, parents continue to play the most important role in safeguarding their children’s privacy.

Awareness encourages safer sharing

Our study involving 161 Malaysian parents offers encouraging findings. Parents are generally willing to adopt safer online sharing habits when they understand the risks and feel confident using privacy settings.

Those who recognised the seriousness of online privacy threats, believed their own child could be affected, trusted that safer sharing practices would help, and felt capable of managing their privacy settings were far more likely to think carefully before posting.

Parents were also more likely to adopt safer habits when they did not see these precautions as inconvenient. Most importantly, those with a stronger desire to protect their children’s wellbeing were significantly more likely to practise safer sharenting.

(Image: Unsplash/ Hưng Nguyễn)

One finding, however, deserves attention. Although many parents said they only shared information about their children occasionally, 42.2% still used public privacy settings. In contrast, only about one-third kept child-related posts private.

This suggests that the biggest risk is not necessarily how often parents post, but who can access those posts. A single public photo can quickly spread beyond its intended audience.

Recognising these concerns, UNICEF Malaysia has urged parents to think carefully about sharenting, reminding families that every post contributes to a child’s digital identity and that privacy settings alone cannot eliminate all online risks.

Share with care

This is not a call for parents to stop sharing family moments. It is a call to share more thoughtfully.

In marketing, we often say that a reputation takes years to build but only seconds to damage. The same principle applies to our children’s digital identity. Every click leaves a trace, and every post shapes how they may one day be seen by others.

While we cannot control everything that happens online, we can choose what we share, who can see it, and how we protect the privacy, dignity and future of the people who matter most. 

The author, Prof Dr Yusniza Kamarulzaman is a Professor of Marketing at the Faculty of  Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia

Testicular cancer: Why early detection can save lives

 

TESTICULAR cancer is the most common solid cancer affecting young men, yet awareness of the disease remains relatively low.

Globally, around one in 250 males will develop testicular cancer, making it the most common solid cancer among men aged 15 to 35, with the average age of diagnosis at just 33.

Despite affecting men early in life, specialists say it is also one of the most curable cancers when detected early.

Dr Murali Sundram Mikaail Abdullah, Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, noted that advances in treatment have transformed patient outcomes.

“Testicular cancer has a five-year survival rate of approximately 95% with early diagnosis and treatment. It is one of the most curable cancers,” he said.

Don’t ignore a painless lump

Dr Murali Sundram Mikaail Abdullah

Unlike many other cancers, testicular cancer often develops without pain, making it easy to dismiss.

“The earliest sign is usually a painless swelling or lump in one testicle. It may be noticed by the patient himself or sometimes by his sexual partner,” Dr Murali continued.

Because the condition is often painless, many men delay seeking medical attention. Dr Murali advises that any painless lump or swelling should be assessed promptly by a doctor and referred to a urologist if necessary.

He also recommends regular testicular self-examinations, particularly for younger men, to improve the chances of early detection.

How it is diagnosed

If a lump is detected, an ultrasound scan is usually the first investigation.

“A simple ultrasound has about a 90% accuracy rate in diagnosing testicular cancer. If cancer is suspected, blood tests to measure tumour markers and CT scans of the abdomen and lungs are performed to determine whether the cancer has spread,” said Dr Murali.

When detected early, the disease is usually confined to the testicle (Stage I). More advanced stages indicate spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs such as the lungs or bones.

For patients diagnosed with Stage I disease, treatment is usually straightforward.

The affected testicle is removed through a procedure known as an orchidectomy, which typically requires only a one-day hospital stay.

According to Dr Murali, between 70% and 85% of patients are cured with surgery alone, although some may receive a single course of chemotherapy to further reduce the risk of recurrence.

Importantly, removing one testicle generally does not affect sexual function or fertility if the remaining testicle is healthy.

“Orchidectomy usually does not affect sexual function or fertility if the remaining testis has normal function,” he continued.

Patients are closely monitored for at least five years after treatment to detect any recurrence early.

For Stage II and Stage III disease, chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment.

“Chemotherapy is very effective for testicular cancers,” Dr Murali asserted, adding that even among patients with advanced disease, outcomes remain encouraging.

According to Dr Murali, around 70% of patients with advanced testicular cancer can still be cured with chemotherapy.

Robotic surgery offers faster recovery for selected patients

Some patients may develop enlarged lymph nodes after chemotherapy, requiring a procedure known as retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) to remove any remaining cancerous tissue.

While open surgery remains the gold standard for more complex cases, robotic-assisted surgery is now available in selected centres for carefully chosen patients.

“Because of the smaller incisions, recovery time is much shorter,” Dr Murali continued, adding that many patients are able to resume their normal daily activities within weeks.

According to Dr Murali, the key to beating testicular cancer is recognising its earliest warning sign.

“Testicular cancer commonly presents as a painless swelling of the testicle. Regular testicular self-examination allows the disease to be detected at an early stage, when treatment outcomes are excellent,” he added.

For young Malaysian men, taking a few moments each month to perform a simple self-examination and seeking medical advice if something feels unusual could make the difference between early treatment and a more serious diagnosis. ‒  Focus Malaysia

Malaysia should welcome every visitor, not just the big spenders

 

A RECENT article argued that Malaysia should place greater emphasis on attracting higher-value visitors rather than focusing on overall arrival numbers.

While the objective of increasing tourism receipts is valid, it should not come at the expense of overlooking the wider contribution made by different categories of travellers.

Malaysia’s tourism authorities have never measured success solely by visitor arrivals. For more than three decades, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) and Tourism Malaysia have reported both international visitor numbers and tourism expenditure, while the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) publishes comprehensive data on domestic tourism, including visitor numbers, spending patterns and travel behaviour.

These statistics provide a detailed picture of the industry and show that different groups of visitors contribute to the economy in different ways.

About two-thirds of international visitors stay overnight, while the remainder are same-day excursionists. Hotels naturally benefit most from overnight tourists, but retailers, restaurants, attractions and transport operators also gain from day visitors.

Tourism spending is similarly diverse. Shopping, accommodation, and food and beverages account for more than 70% of expenditure by international tourists. Among domestic travellers, shopping, food, beverages and fuel make up the largest share of tourism spending.

At the same time, the proportion of domestic tourists staying in paid accommodation, including short-term rental accommodation, has risen significantly since 2019.

Malaysia also enjoys a high level of visitor loyalty. Around 70% of international arrivals are repeat visitors, while the average length of stay is about 4.5 nights for foreign tourists and 2.6 nights for domestic travellers.

 Business travel is undoubtedly an important segment. Whether referred to as MICE or the more widely adopted term “Business Events”, Malaysia has long recognised its value.

Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) have spent years promoting conferences, exhibitions and corporate events that generate substantial economic activity.

Corporate travellers typically spend more on accommodation, dining and meeting facilities, making them an attractive market for premium hotels. However, they represent only one part of a much broader tourism ecosystem.

Leisure travellers, family holidaymakers, backpackers, excursionists and domestic tourists all support businesses across the country.

Shopping remains the single largest contributor to tourism expenditure, and enthusiastic shoppers can be found among both  business and leisure travellers.

Rather than attempting to favour one category of visitor over another, Malaysia should continue building a tourism industry that welcomes everyone.

Until the country reaches the limits of its tourism capacity, there is little reason to cherry-pick visitors based solely on how much they spend.

Different market segments complement one another and collectively support hotels, restaurants, transport providers, retailers and attractions.

Backpackers, for example, may return years later as professionals, entrepreneurs or investors after positive experiences in Malaysia. Likewise, domestic tourists help sustain businesses during periods when international arrivals soften.

Tourism is both a volume business and a long-term investment in relationships. Every visitor who leaves Malaysia with a favourable impression becomes an ambassador for the country.

Malaysia has built a reputation as a welcoming destination. That reputation should continue to extend to every visitor, whether arriving for a business conference, a family holiday or a backpacking adventure.

A healthy tourism industry depends not on choosing between visitors, but on ensuring that all feel welcome.

YS Chan is a tourism, transport and training consultant.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.