PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE: AN ANALYSIS OF PARENTAL POWER AND EXPOSURE ON SOCIAL NETWORKS

Abstract

The use of social networks has become part of many families’ daily lives and, with that, the sharing of images and information about children and adolescents has also increased. This practice, known as sharenting, has drawn attention because it places parental authority in tension with minors’ fundamental rights, especially image, privacy, and dignity. This study analyzes the legal limits of exposing children and adolescents on social networks, from the perspective of Family Law and Digital Law. The research adopts a qualitative, exploratory, bibliographic, and documentary approach, based on doctrine, legislation, and recent institutional statements. The findings indicate that, although Brazilian law provides relevant protective tools, there are still gaps in the specific regulation of child overexposure by parents or guardians. It is concluded that parental authority must be guided by the child’s best interests and by digital responsibility standards capable of preventing present and future harm to child development.