Smile for the camera: sharenting and the tension between parental rights and children’s freedoms

Abstract

This report examines the phenomenon of sharenting – the practice of guardians sharing their children’s personal information and images online – through both an ethical and legal perspective, with a focus on European Union law. It explores the motivations behind sharenting, its associated risks for children’s privacy, safety, and psychological well-being, and the distinction between commercial and non-commercial cases of sharenting. The analysis addresses the current regulatory landscape, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), assessing the applicability of provisions such as Article 17 (“right to be forgotten”). Comparative examples, notably France’s recent legislation, illustrate national-level responses. The report concludes by advocating for a combination of legislative reform, educational initiatives for parents and children, and technological safeguards to better protect children’s digital identities in an evolving online environment.