The Digital Playground: The Current State of the Parenting Universe in Social Media

May 1, 2024

In the vast landscape of social media, where every scroll unveils a new facet of human experience, perhaps no realm is as diverse, dynamic, and influential as the parenting universe. As an agency consistently working with creators in the parenting space it is crucial to stay up to date with current trends in the bustling world of parenting on social media. The influencer parenting universe is like a digital playground, buzzing with everything from adorable baby photos to real talk about the joys and challenges of raising kids. But like any playground, it’s got its fair share of twists and turns.

Let’s be real—it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Social media can sometimes feel like a judgmental jungle gym, with every parenting decision up for debate. And now with AI in the mix, family creators are trying to navigate the world of social media and determine what is safe for their children. Posting their kids’ faces? Posting their kids all together? The comments section can quickly turn into a battlefield of opinions. And with the anonymity of the internet, people aren’t afraid to speak their minds, for better or for worse.

As an LPR intern, one of our ongoing tasks is to conduct weekly trend reports. These reports help inform the agency of what is going on in the world of social media, such as new trends, influencers, hashtags, etc. that may be informative for clients, including ‘The State of The Parenting Universe.’ In the last few weeks, the parenting influencer universe has faced much scrutiny and significant controversies with many creators choosing to blur their children’s faces or completely pull their children off socials; especially on TikTok, where the discussion of child safety concerns is more prominent. In consequence as a professional in the PR realm, staying up to date with the content family and lifestyle influencers choose to share is important when navigating trends in the parenting landscape, and making new connections or revisiting creative partners.

An emerging social media trend we may see flourishing in the parenting universe is faceless influencers. Faceless influencers create social media content while maintaining anonymity by not showing their face. However, in the parenting universe, the faceless influencers would be the children themselves. When it comes to influencer marketing, many family channels will continue to promote and review products but only now without showing their kids’ faces. This approach to content creation offers parents a sense of security and relief about their child’s safety.

But it’s not all chaos and controversy; social media is also a powerful platform for change. Parents are using hashtags like #NormalizeBreastfeeding and #BlackMomsMatter to raise awareness about important issues and push for positive change in society. Brands have also been taking notice and becoming part of the community to support these movements. It’s inspiring to see people come together online to advocate for parental leave policies, inclusive education, and so much more.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this? Well, social media can be a mixed bag when it comes to parenting. It’s a place to find support, advice, and camaraderie, but it’s also a place where judgment and misinformation can run rampant. The key is to take it all with a grain of salt, trust your instincts, and remember that every family is different. From a PR perspective, the joy of unboxing and the fun of new toys, shows, and experiences will continue to be captured by influencer families, regardless of whether the parents choose to feature their children’s faces or not.  But there’s also so much opportunity to work with parenting influencers to create moments that matter – making waves, inspiring change, and leaving a lasting impact that resonates with families everywhere.

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