SHARENTING AND CHILDREN`S DIGITAL PORTRAYAL IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Parents and adults exposing a great deal of information and pictures of children online is a practice known as "sharenting" and social media has evolved into a platform for it. Social media platforms function as a digital baby book, with a staggering 17.9 million posts under the hashtag "child" on Instagram alone (2024). A Microsoft analysis indicates that by 2030, over-sharing of children's data may be the primary cause of almost two-thirds of identity theft cases. With an estimated 70,000 pieces of data about a child online by age 18, a question arises: are we endangering children's privacy and well-being in the digital age? The research dives into how widespread sharenting has become, its effects on children's privacy and well-being, and the risks and moral dilemmas that arise in the digital age. The thesis proposes an awareness designed to raise parental consciousness about the implications associated with sharenting. With the primary focus being on examining sharenting practices within Pakistan, the discussion draws upon global quantitative data to provide insights into how children are portrayed in digital media and an evaluation of the repercussions of sharenting on children's privacy, well-being, and online safety. The overarching objective is to cultivate an understanding among parents about the necessity of ensuring a secure and nurturing digital identity for their children