This question was raised during one of my lectures on Data Privacy Act: What are the unintended consequences on children if their parents post photos/videos of them online?

Scarlet Snow Belo, 3 years old, has already garnered 2.7 million followers in her Instagram account. Her life has been an open-book to everyone, including me. Her followers know her favorite food, favorite toys, her activities, where she spends her vacation and what she does “ATM” or at the moment. For the 2.7 million followers, the life of Scarlet has been part of their everyday lives. While we admire her wittiness and cuteness, it is unlikely that it is Scarlet who is actually doing the social media posts herself. It is even more doubtful whether Scarlet herself created and controls her Instagram account. If it is not Scarlet herself, then who could be doing this on her behalf? And how can a three-year-old consent to all such postings? I wonder if she already understands the consequences of her presence in social media and whether she knows that she too, at her tender age, and like everyone else, should enjoy the fundamental right to privacy.

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