Sharenting: The Parents' Overlooked Children Rights Issues

Abstract

Sharenting is a behavior in which parents share information about their children through social media. This kind of activity is more popular and trending. Most of the parents post pictures and video clips showing their children's daily life, their children doing activities on special occasions and pictures that make the child feel embarrassed such as nude, semi-nude, or disturbing situations photos (e.g. crying or afraid). The causes of such behaviors include: to desire for recognition, assistance or business interests, etc. This kind of activity may have positive effects on children, for instance, boost their confidence, self-esteem, assertiveness, however, negative effects may also occur such as the privacy rights have been violated, being cyberbullied, and create distrust between children and their parents. In foreign countries, they have laws that prevent and prohibit parents from violating the privacy of their children such as Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In Thailand have Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003), etc. Sharenting practices should including setting up privacy, asking for permission from children before posting, ask help from service providers and relevant authorities in case of child abuse. Sharing children's information online should be concerned by parents to be aware of and pay attention on respecting their children’s right, being cautious, and consider any potential impact on their children. Moreover, social media users, any institution on children matter, mass media, and etc. should cooperate to all parties on realizing the importance of children’s right and study on this matter.