From Kids YouTube and SNS to TV Appearances... Is 'Share-Parenting' a Violation of Children's Rights? [Kim Ga-yeon's Perspective Twist]

'Shaerenting' Spreading on SNS
Concerns Over Violations of Children's Autonomy and Exposure to Crime
Possibility of Punishment in Countries Like France

YouTube and YouTube Kids related footage/Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the use of social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram becomes more active, content featuring children, including photos and videos posted by parents, is increasing. However, controversy continues over the fact that children's privacy is fully exposed. Criticism has been raised that this infringes on children's rights, as children cannot clearly express their own intentions. There are also concerns that this could be seen as a form of abuse.

As more parents post photos and video content featuring their children on social media, controversy surrounding 'Sharenting' has also emerged. Sharenting is a coined term combining the English word 'Share' meaning 'to share' and 'Parenting,' referring to the act of sharing a child's daily life. Parents who engage in this behavior are sometimes called 'Share-Parents' (Share + Parents).

Although this behavior is intended to document the growth of children, many photos and videos are posted without the child's consent, leading to criticism that it infringes on children's rights such as privacy and portrait rights. Newborns and infants cannot recognize the process of their images being exposed, and there are concerns that they may have given consent under parental pressure or without sufficient discernment.

In particular, such media exposure raises concerns that children may become targets of personal attacks, malicious comments, identity theft, kidnapping, and other crimes. Additionally, if content featuring children is monetized, it may lead to psychological abuse by forcing or pressuring children to engage in unwanted behaviors. As a result, some citizens have voiced that this could be considered a form of abuse.

In response to these concerns, YouTube announced a minor protection policy last year. According to YouTube's global official blog, the policy includes banning live streaming by children under 13 without a guardian and restricting comments on videos featuring minors. The purpose is to prevent the collection of videos of minors in ways that encourage or exploit inappropriate behavior toward minors.

Footage related to SNS usage / Photo by Yonhap News

Controversy over sharenting has arisen not only in Korea but also overseas.

Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow faced controversy last year after posting a photo with her daughter Apple Martin on Instagram. Martin protested in the comments, saying, "We talked about this. You shouldn't post things without my consent." Netizens criticized, saying, "Children also have the right to privacy," and "Being a mother does not grant all rights."

According to a previous survey, children are more likely than adults to believe that 'posts about children should not be made without permission.'

A 2016 report titled 'Parents' and Children's Perspectives on Family Technology Rules' by researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Michigan surveyed 249 parent-child pairs across 40 states. The results showed that children were twice as likely as parents to respond that information about children should not be shared online without permission.

The researchers stated, "Children feel frustration and embarrassment about being publicly exposed online without their consent."

Meanwhile, other countries advise refraining from posting photos of children on social media without their consent.

In France, under privacy protection laws, posting photos of children on social media without consent can be interpreted legally as an invasion of privacy, punishable by a fine of 35,000 pounds or imprisonment for up to one year.

According to the 2016 British daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph, French lawyers and police warned that adult children could sue for invasion of privacy regarding photos posted on social media during their childhood. Local police also advised parents to refrain from encouraging acquaintances to post photos featuring their children.

Vietnam also pushed for legislation in 2018 to punish parents who post photos, videos, or other personal information of their children on social media without the child's consent.

At that time, local media Vietnam News reported that the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs was drafting a law allowing children to sue their parents if personal information was posted online without their consent. The draft included provisions such as requiring parental or guardian consent to post photos or videos of children under 7 years old online, and requiring the child's consent for children over 7 years old. Violations could result in fines up to 50 million VND (approximately 2.5 million KRW).