Sharenting on Social Networks as an Ecological Form of Presentation of the Visual Content Exposed to the Influence of Groundswell

Abstract

Abstract The digital environment as a special kind of media space brought almost unlimited possibilities of sustainable dissemination of visual and auditory material and text and their combinations – digital form. However, the digital environment gave rise to several phenomena that can pose a potential danger to Internet users, in particular with regard to the growing number of activities under the concept of so-called groundswell. The paper deals with the issue of selected forms of social behaviour of social media users and their preferences with regard to the type of minors-related content they share. The authors emphasize the risks and negative consequences such content (and communication about it) may entail for participants. The aim of the research is to examine the phenomenon of sharenting, to point out the related risk and to identify possible impacts on the quality of life and safety of children and young people on the Internet based on a critical analysis of the theoretical framework and comparison of research results with those from abroad. The results are presented verbally and visually, as they are set in context and compared with the results of previous research of a similar nature. In the conclusion, the authors emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary research into the topic and emphasize the importance of media education and media literacy of children and parents alike, as media education and media literacy are considered to be the primary predictors of safe use of the Internet and social media.