| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis examines the practice of parents sharing imagines of their children on social media (sharenting) and the risks it poses to children’s well-being, privacy and safety. The study analyses how the digital environment is transforming modern parenting practices, while sharing children’s images and personal information is becoming a common form for everyday communication. Sharenting is discussed through the perspectives of child welfare specialists and by analysing the content shared by Lithuanian influencers on social media. The theoretical part of thesis discusses the concept of sharenting, motivations for sharing content with children, the positive and negative aspects of this practice, as well as violations of children’s privacy, dignity and safety. The study analyses Lithuanian and international regulations concerning the protection of children’s images, along with theoretical perspectives that help interpret the phenomenon of sharenting within the context of social work. The aim of the research is to analyse sharenting practices in publicly accessible social media content created by Lithuanian influencers ant to reveal child welfare specialists’ perspective on the risks this phenomenon poses to children’s well-being. A qualitative research method was applied, combining passive virtual ethnography and semi-structured interviews. The study analyses publicly accessible social media content created by Lithuanian influencers, as well as child welfare specialist’s views on sharenting, the risks it poses and possible prevention measures. The research findings revealed that parent’s sharing of children’s images on social media is multifaceted practice associated with the search for emotional support, creation of social connections, documentation of family life and commercial interest. However, the analysed content also highlighted risks related to violations of children’s privacy, the formation of digital footprint, emotional vulnerability and misuse of content for harmful purposes. The study also showed that child welfare specialists identify different forms of sharenting and the challenges associated with them. Therefore, the importance of greater parental awareness, prevention and clearer guidelines is needed to ensure the responsible sharing of children’s images on social media. |
