Came across a
CNN article talking about the exploitation of children in social media, particularly mentioning the Australian boy with dwarfism that's emotional video went viral over the last couple of weeks...
Here's an excerpt that brings a certain family to mind......
(the author has a child with Down Syndrome)
"Parents with autistic kids too frequently post videos of their child's meltdowns, forever digitally associating the kid's name or image with a moment of loss of control. Sure, the parents may be turning to a community for help, just as the mom in Australia needed help, but we have to build systems to support families like theirs, and mine, without creating a permanent record of despair that our children will have to struggle with forever.
Sharing trauma without consent creates the conditions to replicate that trauma long into the future -- it can expose someone to additional cruelty or serve as a disturbing and lingering reminder of that difficult moment. After all, it's almost guaranteed that children will grow up and Google themselves at some point. Every child has the right to control his or her image and choose what to keep private. We have to break this cycle."
HMMMMM...... Thought-provoking, right, Asa?
