On the network, it came down to the news that Lil Masti had taken off with the foundation "Children are with us". This idea immediately sparked an avalanche of reactions and became one of the hottest topics in the world of social media.
What's with the Lil Masti Foundation?
Anila Wozniakowska, known as Lil Masti, set up a foundation to promote the publication of children's image online. In her opinion, children are an integral part of our everyday life also in the digital world. The organisation is to support parents in sharing child-related material, creating a charter of good practice and educating about the safe presence of the youngest on the Internet.
Main objectives of the Foundation
- Promoting the image of children in public and online spaces;
- Supporting parents in "sharenting" decisions;
- Creating good practice of portraying children online;
- Education of parents and young people in cybersecurity and the protection of the identity of the child;
Lil Masti argues that there is an atmosphere of distrust around the public image of children and that its aim is to create a more supportive and safe environment for families online.
Why the controversy?
The foundation has been very emotional since the beginning, because it is facing a growing wave of criticism of so-called sharing – the publication by parents of photos and videos of children on the Internet. Both experts and many internet users highlight the risks:
- Violation of the child's right to privacy and digital identity;
- The ability to expose a child to hate, cyber violence and ridicule in the future;
- Lack of consent from the youngest – children have no influence on what is published about them;
- Accusations of earning on the image of your child
List of concerns of experts and internet users:
- Loss of control of photos after being uploaded to the network;
- Unforeseeable use of materials;
- Permanent consequences for the digital identity of the child
Position of Advocate for the Rights of the Child
Monika Horna-Cieślak, Spokeswoman of the Rights of the Child, officially expressed concern about the promotion of sharing. She stressed that the image of a child is more than a picture – it is an integral part of his identity. She pointed out that when publishing material involving children, she should remember their feelings both now and in the future. Research results cited by the spokesperson show that as many as 74% of teenagers find publishing photos without consent harmful.
The RPD Bureau has sent a number of letters to ministries and public institutions asking them to monitor the Foundation's activities and to consider additional regulations to protect the image of the youngest.
Will the Lil Masti Foundation change attitudes towards children on the Internet?
The debate on the digital presence of children shows how much the topic divided parents, experts and public opinion. The new foundation introduces an element of provocation – it tries to create a movement against the worldwide trend of strengthening the protection of the child's image on the network. Time will tell whether this will be the beginning of a positive change, or just another controversial episode in the Polish debate on the rights of children and the digital ethics of families.
Arguments "for" and "against" the Lil Masti Foundation:
| Page | Arguments |
|---|---|
| Supporters | Supporting parents in informed content sharing |
| Education about children's online presence | |
| Attempt to create good practice cards | |
| Opponents | Risk of limiting children's privacy |
| Possible exposure of children to hate and cyber violence | |
| Conflict with recommendations of experts and spokeswoman |
