Parents are sharing too much online, survey finds

Almost 80% of Irish people feel that parents share too much of their family’s daily lives on Facebook and other social media.

The latest Eircom household sentiment survey highlighted that the vast majority of people feel that too much ‘sharenting’ takes place online, with more than three out of four complaining that it is boring for others.

Despite this, just 5% admitted to over-sharing family moments online, while 35% feel that sharing such moments strengthens bonds with family and friends.

While technology is increasingly impacting and shaping Irish society, the survey reveals that 1.4m Irish people now have access to a tablet — a 60% jump in just the last six months.

Facebook usage among young people (aged 16 to 24) is declining — down 5% to 89%. The reasons cited for the decline is that it is no longer “cool” (30%), while over 25% said it took up too much time in their lives and 26% said they left due to being bombarded by advertising.

However, Facebook has experienced a rise in popularity amongst the over 35s. Younger people are increasingly spending their time on Twitter and Snapchat.

Over 2m people now use a smartphone — a 15% increase on the figure just six months ago.

The survey also found that more than eight out of 10 adults now own an internet-enabled device that can be used on the go, with the average number of online devices in the home having increased from three to four in the past six months. This growth is largely down to the surge in tablet ownership.

A further 16% of those surveyed said they intend to purchase a tablet in the next year.

The Eircom study found that the vast majority of people feel technology has positively influenced their relationships with their friends and their partners.

The findings also show that online dating has become far more socially acceptable with one in four people aged between 25 and 35 admitting to visiting an dating site.

Consumer marketing director at Eircom, Lisa Comerford, said the survey highlighted the rapid pace at which technology is impacting Irish society.

“The surge in ownership of online devices ‘on the go’ is quite remarkable — we truly are now a nation of smartphone users. What’s also intriguing is the rate of change in social media usage, as some sites become popular and others wane.

“The survey is especially important for Eircom as it reflects much of our knowledge and understanding of our customers and the technology landscape,” Ms Comerford said.