"Mom Uploads My Photos on Mom Cafe"... Children Expressing Shame

Some Parents Post Children's Private Photos on SNS
Various Scenes Including Sleeping and Eating... Even 'Potty Training' Photos
"Do We Have No Privacy?" Children Express Shame
Experts Say "Parents Should Get Permission Before Posting Children's Photos"

Photos of children posted on social networking services (SNS) such as Instagram. Some parents unfilteredly uploaded sensitive private moments, including sleeping and using the bathroom. / Photo by Instagram capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] #A (13), a sixth-grade elementary school student, recently found photos of her childhood on her mother's blog. A said, "Although these are photos taken when I was very young, some of them are embarrassing to show to others," and added, "I have a right to privacy too, so I don't understand why my photos are posted online without my permission."

As more parents share photos of their children on blogs and online communities, concerns about privacy invasion are growing. Photos that parents upload as a way to reminisce about memories with their children can become a burden for sensitive adolescents. There are also worries that photos of children posted without much thought could be misused in digital sex crimes. Experts urge restraint, noting that forcibly posting photos without the child's consent can also be considered child abuse.

On the 11th, many posts by parents sharing photos of their children were found on online local cafes, mom cafes, and blogs. The types of photos varied widely, from children eating to sleeping. Some photos even exposed sensitive private moments, such as toilet training during infancy.

Some parents serialize 'parenting diaries' on personal blogs, capturing every move of their children and leaving detailed records of their daily actions and parenting challenges.

The problem lies in the overly detailed recording of children's private lives in these records. Sensitive adolescents may feel embarrassed or ashamed due to past posts about themselves uploaded by their parents.

In June, on 'Naver Knowledge iN,' an elementary school student expressed distress, saying, "My mom posts my photos on mom cafes and blogs without my permission."

The student, who identified as 13 years old, said, "My mom posts things like 'the daughters have become chubby,' 'their weight is such and such,' or 'their personality during puberty is like this.' Even if she had just posted photos, I would have been upset, but she posted full-body photos that make me embarrassed on mom cafes and blogs. It feels like my daughters have no privacy at all, and it really makes me feel awful."

She added, "Some people say, 'They're still young, so what's the big deal?' but try to put yourself in my shoes. How would you feel if your parents gave you a funny nickname, posted weird photos of your face, and revealed your height and weight while laughing with cafe members?"

A bigger concern is that photos and detailed stories of children posted thoughtlessly on online communities could be exploited for digital sex crimes and other offenses.

Last year, the so-called 'Nth Room case,' where minors and women were threatened to produce sexual exploitation materials and distributed for money, raised awareness about digital sex crimes.

During the case, some suspects created obscene materials by applying 'deepfake' (AI-based synthesis technology) images onto photos downloaded from social media and online communities. There are concerns that children's photos could be used in such crimes.

There is also a risk that photos of children casually posted by parents could be exploited for digital sex crimes. / Photo by Yonhap News

In Western countries with strict personal privacy protections, even parents can face criminal penalties if they post their children's photos without permission.

For example, France's amended Personal Data Protection Act in 2016 stipulates that parents who fail to protect their children's images may face up to one year in prison and fines of up to 45,000 euros.

In the same year, in Canada, a man sued his parents for posting his photos on Facebook without permission for over 10 years. He said, "The photos my parents posted seriously damaged my image," and "I sued my parents to legally protect myself from parents who excessively share their children's photos."

These cases highlight the need for caution when posting children's photos online.

A 30-year-old office worker, Mr. A, said, "Children know what is embarrassing once they turn 10. Posting personal photos in online spaces accessible to the public naturally causes stress. I believe parents who respect their children should not post photos carelessly."

Ms. B, also in her 30s and recently a parent, said, "I do not plan to post my child's photos on blogs or mom cafes. Photos of children should be shared with family, not strangers. It is understandable that children would feel uncomfortable. Especially when you think that people with malicious intent could access those photos, it is chilling."

Experts emphasize the need for parents to respect and protect their children's privacy.

Mr. Bae Moonsang, team leader of the Seoul branch of the Korea Child Abuse Prevention Association, said, "Children have a right to privacy, and parents must obtain permission before posting their children's photos on open spaces like SNS or online communities. Ignoring this can be considered child abuse. If the child is too young to give consent, parents should ask for their opinion once they grow up."

He added, "One important point when posting children's photos is that these photos are exposed to an unspecified large audience. Parents must be aware that photos posted because they are cute can be exploited by people with malicious intentions, such as pedophiles."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.