Observador | Pro Bono | Social media: the risk of ending up in a “children’s catalogue”
The use of social media by children and young people carries significant risks. Pedro Barosa, partner at Abreu Advogados and specialist in Criminal Law, argues in the latest episode of Rádio Observador’s Pro Bono podcast that the current legal minimum age to create an account, 13 years old, is still “too early.”
In many cases, the motivation for sharing is “pride or vanity,” but the consequences can be “devastating,” warned Pedro Barosa. The dangers are mainly related to safety, but also to self-esteem. Neither young people nor many parents realize that this kind of exposure can fuel actual “catalogues” of children, exploited by “predators” and networks of child exploitation and pornography. In addition, among the most evident risks is the negative impact on self-esteem, caused by offensive comments or hate speech.
The lawyer stresses that preventive work by parents is essential, and argues that, legally, access to social media by younger children should be delayed.
Listen to the podcast here.
