From privacy to audience. On the need for media education in the digital age on the example of the sharenting phenomenon

In today’s hybrid reality, in which the online world intersects with the offline world, media education, which includes the ability to use technology in an informed and responsible manner, seems essential. Social media are a source of entertainment, a tool for communication and obtaining information, but they can also create a field for many abuses and threats to our privacy. One social media activity that can have negative consequences, and which exemplifies the growing need to improve media literacy among online users, is sharenting. The phenomenon of sharenting is related to the excessive sharing of photos, videos and information about a child online. Since sharenting is still a relatively new phenomenon, the purpose of the article is to provide an overview of the issue and identify areas for further research. The article will discuss the most important issues related to this phenomenon, such as the motivations behind the excessive publication of information about a child online and the potential consequences of such action.