Learn About Sharing Content Online

For many rangatahi, sharing content online is as normal as chatting with friend; it’s how they connect, express themselves and show what matters to them. But every post, story or video builds a small piece of their online identity.

In a nutshell

Sharing content online means posting or sending something, like a photo, video, meme, story or comment, for others to see, react to or pass on.

Rangatahi might share through social media, messaging apps, group chats, gaming platforms or school platforms .

Sharing often happens across multiple apps at once, for example, posting a photo to Snapchat, sharing a clip on Instagram, or forwarding a TikTok in a group chat.

Sharing content is part of how tamariki and rangatahi express identity, stay connected and take part in online communities. Once content is shared, it cannot be taken back, and it's important for young people to think carefully about what they share online to protect their privacy and digital footprint.

5-minute whānau safety check

We’ve checked who can see their posts (public, friends, or private)
We’ve looked at who can comment on or share their content
We’ve talked about what’s okay to share and what’s better kept private
We’ve reviewed privacy settings and location tags together
My child knows how to delete, edit or report a post and that they can always ask for help

What to expect

When your child is sharing content online, you might see:

Regular posting or story updates throughout the week
Careful attention to captions, filters and how things “look together”
Excitement or anxiety about likes, comments or follower counts
Quick changes of mind — deleting or hiding a post soon after sharing
Wanting to talk about trends, challenges or who’s “gone viral”

If your child seems anxious about reactions, avoids showing you their profiles, or shares personal details more often than before, that’s a good time for gentle kōrero.

What's the up-side?

Why might your child want to share content online?

Connection and community

Sharing content helps rangatahi keep in touch with friends and whānau, especially across schools, towns or time zones.

Belonging and validation

Likes, comments and shares can make young people feel seen and included.

Contribution and voice

They can share opinions, causes or creative work, and sometimes inspire others or join global conversations.

Self-expression and identity

Sharing online allows them to experiment with how they present themselves, their humour, interests, and style.

Posting my art and seeing people like it gives me confidence

Youth Participant

No Single Online Experience – Youth Roadshow Report 2025

What's the flip-side?

Sharing online can be empowering, but it also creates a digital footprint that lasts. Here are some things to keep an eye on and how to help.

Like anxiety and unkind comments

Online comments can boost confidence — or knock it down. Even small remarks can linger, and friendly posts can attract comments that sting. The pressure to get likes and shares can feel intense, leading to disappointment and frustration if they don’t come.

Oversharing personal details

Small clues in images and videos, such as a school logo, street signs, house view, school uniform, or a reflection in a mirror can give away more information than intended, leading to privacy and security risks.

Content being copied or reposted

Once something is shared, others can screenshot, save or repost it — sometimes without credit or consent. This means content may spread much further than the originally intended audience.

Pressure to stay visible

Some rangatahi feel they have to post often to stay connected or relevant.

Misunderstandings or context loss

Tone and humour don’t always come across online — a private joke can look different to others.

Long-term footprint

Once content is posted online you lose control of what happens to it next, and what’s shared today can resurface later, (even when you think you’ve deleted it).

Safety Check

Use the settings

Set account privacy to “friends only” or similar for younger users
Turn off location tagging in apps and photos
Review tagging and commenting settings to limit unwanted input

Review posts together

Encourage regular post reviews and delete old content if it no longer feels right, and ask objective questions like “What could someone learn about us from this?”. Adjust privacy settings or delete details if needed.

Encourage balance

Suggest “quiet days” or offline hobbies that don’t rely on likes or followers.

Consider different perspectives

Role-play how a message or photo could be interpreted differently. Talk about checking before posting if it could be misread.

Check online footprints

Search their name together in quotes (“Name Surname”). Talk about whether the results reflect how they want to be seen now and in the future (when applying for Uni, jobs etc.)

Top Tips

Click on each block to learn more about how you can support your whānau to find balance with screentime and screen use.

Learn more about why your child shares content online.

“What kind of posts make you feel good to share?”
“Who do you like following and why?”
"Who do you imagine your audience is?"

Chat about posts you see together, both good or bad examples, and when you see something clever or kind online, share it with them:

“Why do you think someone chose to post this publicly?”
“What could someone learn from that picture?”
“I liked how that person used humour without being mean, what do you think?”

Look at drafts, privacy settings and image details as a team and ask them to teach you how to hide or archive something to build confidence and trust.