siliconindia | | DECEMBER 20258In today's digital world, parenting is no longer just something that happens inside homes. It happens on screens, timelines, reels, and comment sections. Millions of parents now curate their family lives online, presenting their children as joyful, achievers, trend-followers, little dancers, young coders, or perfect kids.Likes and shares have quietly become a new form of validation for many adults. Yet behind the filters and captions, a troubling psychological side effect is emerging children are growing up confused about who they really are.The camera light blinks red. A six-year-old girl stands in a spotless kitchen while her mother, phone in hand, whispers, `Smile bigger, baby this one's going to get a million views'.Ten seconds later the same child is crying because she spilled juice on the marble countertop that was just styled for `morning routine' content. The mother sighs, `Cut. We'll redo it after cleanup'.To 3.4 million followers, this family is flawless. To the little girl, reality has already begun to fracture.The Three Masks Every Child Now Sees1. The On-Camera Parent Loving, patient, aesthetically impeccable. Speaks in soft, sing-song captions, 'Watching her discover the world is pure magic'. Never raises voice. Wardrobe sponsored.2. The Off-Camera Parent Stressed, exhausted, sometimes short-tempered. May yell about the spilled juice that just ruined a paid partnership shoot. Human, but hidden.3. The Comment-Section Parent Defends every choice with scripture-level conviction. `We don't do screen time' (posted from a ring light while the iPad babysits the toddler in the next room). The performance must remain unbroken, even in replies.EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVEHOW ONLINE PARENTING PERSONAS ARE CAUSING IDENTITY WHIPLASH IN CHILDREN· Children face identity confusion growing up online.· Social media turns everyday moments into staged achievements.· Emotional presence and honesty matter more than curated content.By M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent, siliconindia
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