The Ethics of Sharenting: Balancing Parental Rights with a Child’s ‘Right to an Open Future’

From an ethical standpoint, the issue hinges on 'informed consent.' A minor lacks the cognitive capacity to understand the long-term implications of their image being broadcast to thousands or millions. When parents monetize this content, the relationship shifts from one of 'stewardship' to one of 'exploitation.' This raises critical questions for governance: Should the state intervene in the private sphere of the family to protect a child’s privacy? In India, while the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, introduces provisions for 'verifiable parental consent' for processing children's data, it does not explicitly address the ethics of parents themselves being the data fiduciaries who might compromise their child's privacy. As digital penetration grows, the need for a policy framework that balances parental rights with the child’s right to privacy becomes imperative. UPSC Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper IV (Ethics) regarding the dimensions of ethics in private relationships and the conflict between parental rights and child autonomy. It also connects to GS Paper II (Social Justice) concerning the protection of vulnerable sections and the evolving legal landscape of digital privacy in India. Aspirants can use these philosophical arguments in Essay papers discussing the impact of technology on human values and the changing nature of the family institution.