When Children's Privacy Collides with Public Curiosity

JurnalPost.com - Social media has transformed how society follows the lives of public figures. While information about celebrities was once primarily obtained through television or media reports, their daily lives can now be witnessed directly through posts on various digital platforms. From work activities and personal relationships to family life, everything easily captures public attention.

However, behind this convenience, issues arise regarding the boundary between private life and public consumption. Not everything visible on social media should be freely disseminated, especially when it concerns the lives of children.

This issue has become a focal point in discussions regarding Alyssa Daguise and Al Ghazali. In an incident widely discussed on social media, their child's face was reportedly seen unintentionally in a family video. Clips of the video showing the child's face subsequently circulated, drawing the attention of social media users.

Yet, both parents have consistently chosen not to show their child's face to the public. After the video spread, Alyssa and Al reportedly requested that the public refrain from resharing photos or videos that reveal their child's face.

This event raises an important question: must a child born to famous parents also lose their right to a private life?

Parental Popularity Is No Excuse to Ignore a Child's Privacy

Being a public figure certainly carries the consequence of greater public attention. A celebrity's life is often a topic of conversation, even regarding matters that are inherently private.

However, the popularity of parents should not automatically make their children subjects of public consumption.

Children retain the right to privacy, including the right not to be displayed or introduced to the wider public before they are able to understand the consequences. Furthermore, children do not yet have the full capacity to determine how their identity and personal life should be presented in the digital space.

When parents choose not to show their child's face, that decision is a form of protection that should be respected.

Unfortunately, some social media users still view the lives of celebrity families as something free for public consumption. When photos or videos appear that were previously unseen, curiosity drives some people to search for, save, and reshare them.

In my view, this is where the line between curiosity and respect for privacy begins to be crossed.

Being a fan does not mean one has the right to know every detail of an idol's private life. We can enjoy their work, follow their activities, and offer support without intruding upon the aspects they wish to keep away from public attention.

When Curiosity Turns into the Spread of Private Information

Curiosity about the lives of public figures is actually natural. Social media even builds closeness between celebrities and their followers through posts that feel personal.

However, that closeness sometimes creates the assumption that followers have the right to know more about a person's life.

When a photo or video spreads, some users may feel there is no harm in resharing it because the content has already appeared on the internet.

Yet, there is a major difference between knowing information and having the right to spread it.

Something that can be seen openly is not necessarily appropriate to be reshared, especially if the content reveals a child's identity that the family has intentionally protected.

In the context of digital communication, social media users act not only as recipients of information but also as parties who can expand its reach.

A single post initially seen by a few people can reach thousands or even millions of users when it is continuously shared. Every act of resharing increases the reach of that information.

Therefore, social media users actually have a responsibility to consider the impact of the content they spread.

Not all information that is trending needs to be disseminated. There are times when the decision not to share something becomes a form of care for others.

Digital Footprints Are Not Easily Erased

Another point to consider is the nature of social media, which allows information to be stored and spread for a long time.

Once a video has been uploaded to the internet, the content owner cannot always control its spread. Others may have saved the video, taken screenshots, or re-uploaded it through different accounts.

Even when the initial post is deleted, copies of the content can still potentially be found on various platforms.

This is what makes the issue of children's privacy increasingly important. Information that circulates when a child is still young can form a digital footprint that may remain until they grow into adulthood.

A child whose face is spread around does not necessarily understand that their identity has become the focus of many people. They also have not had the opportunity to decide whether they want to be known by the public or live a more private life.

Therefore, the protection of a child's identity should not depend solely on the parents' decisions.

Society also has a role in ensuring that private information does not continue to spread without a clear reason.

Social Media Ethics Start with Oneself

The incident involving a public figure's family life should serve as a reminder that the freedom to use social media must be accompanied by responsibility.

The ability to access, save, and share information does not mean every user is free to do so without considering the impact.

Before sharing a photo or video, especially one involving children, we need to question whether the content is truly appropriate for dissemination.

Does the person involved want this information to be known by the public? Would sharing it disrupt their private life? And does this information truly serve a public interest?

Simple questions like these can help build more responsible social media habits.

In my opinion, respecting privacy does not mean society must stop following the lives of public figures. We can still enjoy the content they intentionally share, leave comments, or follow their activities.

However, when it concerns something consciously kept away from public attention, we need to know the boundaries.

Especially if that information relates to a child who is not yet able to provide consent for the dissemination of their identity.

Protecting children's privacy is not just an issue for celebrity families. The same applies to children in general. Every child has the right to protection regarding their personal information, regardless of who their parents are or how much public attention their family receives.

The widely discussed case involving Alyssa Daguise and Al Ghazali shows how social media can blur the lines between private life and the public sphere.

On one hand, society has a curiosity about the lives of public figures. However, on the other hand, there are personal rights that must still be respected.

For me, being a wise social media user is not just about being able to follow the latest information or knowing what is viral. More than that, wisdom is also seen in the ability to determine which information is appropriate to share and which should be left as a private matter.

Ultimately, a parent's fame does not erase a child's right to privacy. Public curiosity may arise, but it should not be an excuse to ignore the boundaries of someone's private life.

Because not everything we can see should be shared, and not everything we want to know is something we have the right to know.