Is 'Sharenting' A Growing Problem On Social Media?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The perils of parenting shared on social media can sometimes go too far, or in too much detail.

"Sharenting" is the topic of a new study that might have parents thinking twice about what they post online.

Social media has made our world smaller, and in some cases too close for comfort when it comes to parenting, CBS2's Valerie Castro reported.

A new study from the University of Michigan suggests parents tend to overshare -- posting pictures or stories about their kids online.

The study said 74 percent of parents think other parents share too much information about their children on social media, Castro reported.

The study also said parents shared embarrassing pictures and stories and gave information about a child's location.

"It's easier to spot it when someone else is doing it," said Dr. Jamie Howard.

Howard is a clinical psychologist with the Child Mind Institute in Manhattan.

"Sometimes it's just amusing and they want to share stories about what their child did that day and it's harmless," Howard said. "At least they intend for it be harmless, but you just want to think, 'will this embarrass my child down the road?'"

"The new trend of directly right after birth when everybody is like sweaty and shellshocked, showing all of that on the camera, I think that stuff is better kept for the family," Steve Sappe said.

"Your posting naked pictures of the baby, so that she can be embarrassed later," said parent Mike Carnette, of the Upper West Side.

Dr. Howard said a good guideline is to keep in mind "I love the Times Square sort of check with yourself. If this was posted in Times Square, how would I feel. If the answer is not good, then don't post it."

But some parents say they'd like to see and hear more from fellow parents.

"We've had struggles with breastfeeding and we felt like we were the only ones and then as soon as we started talking to people, we found lots of people had struggles with it," Carnette said.

"It makes you feel better when you know it happens to everybody," said Lauren Becton, of the Upper West Side.

Howard said keeping your child's best interest at heart should always come first, and parents should keep in mind that privacy settings can change on social media, so they should constantly monitor what they're sharing with the public.