The Clinician–Parent Paradox in Sharenting: Professional Responsibility, Parental Autonomy, and Children's Digital Vulnerability

Sharenting—the practice of parents sharing children's personal data and images on digital platforms—has become increasingly normalized, raising concerns about privacy, safety, and psychological well‐being. While existing literature emphasizes the role of healthcare professionals in guiding families on digital risks, less attention has been paid to how clinicians themselves navigate these practices as parents. This paper introduces the concept of the “clinician–parent paradox in sharenting,” describing situations in which professional guidance on children's digital safety coexists with personal online practices that may contribute to children's digital exposure. We further propose the notion of a “digital credibility shield,” whereby professional identity may generate a perceived sense of control and attenuate risk perception in personal digital behaviour. Drawing on ethical considerations related to autonomy, professional responsibility, and the child's right to an open future, we argue that this paradox reflects a broader tension between expertise and everyday practice in digital environments. Conceptualizing this phenomenon may support ethical self‐reflection among healthcare professionals and provide a foundation for future empirical and normative research on digital parenting in clinical contexts.