THE CIVIL LIABILITY OF PARENTS FOR THE EXPOSURE OF MINOR CHILDREN ON SOCIAL NETWORKS: A LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE SHARENTING PHENOMENON AND ITS REFLECTIONS ON THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The advancement of digital technologies and the consolidation of social networks as central spaces for social interaction have intensified practices involving the exposure of private life, notably the phenomenon known as sharenting, which consists of parents or guardians sharing information, images, and content related to their minor children. Although many of these publications have an affective nature, excessive exposure may pose significant risks to the child’s privacy, image, and dignity. This study aims to analyze the civil liability of parents arising from the digital exposure of their children, examining the limits of parental authority in light of personality rights. A qualitative approach was adopted, using the deductive method, through bibliographic research and analysis of judicial precedents, based on the Federal Constitution, the Statute of Children and Adolescents, the Civil Code, the Brazilian Internet Civil Framework, and the General Data Protection Law. The findings indicate that the Brazilian legal system provides adequate mechanisms for the protection of personality rights in the digital environment, even in the absence of specific regulation regarding sharenting. It is observed that civil liability may arise in cases of abusive exposure, particularly when involving economic purposes, vexatious content, or violations of the child’s privacy. The study concludes that the contemporary challenge lies in balancing parental authority with the full protection of children in the digital environment, requiring a legal interpretation sensitive to technological developments and the inherent vulnerability of minors.