Finnish teenager raises awareness on privacy concerns after mother shares personal details on Facebook

The situation began when Eetu, now in his twenties, was in elementary school. His mother shared detailed updates about his life through photos and text with several hundred of her Facebook friends. Eetu remarked, “If someone wanted to abduct me, they could easily find out where I was at school and when my activities were.” His mother’s Facebook posts chronicled significant moments in Eetu’s life, along with sensitive health information, such as when and how he was sick.

By the time he entered high school and joined Facebook himself, Eetu realized the extent of his mother’s online sharing, which had occurred multiple times a week over the years. “It’s impossible to say how many posts she made about me; it could be in the hundreds,” he stated, admitting his name has been changed for privacy reasons.

Rauna Rahja, an expert in media education from the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, suggests Eetu’s experience is likely not unique in Finland. With children of Facebook-era parents approaching adulthood, many are becoming increasingly aware of their privacy rights. Rahja stressed the importance of seeking children’s consent for sharing any personal or sensitive information online, such as health details or images of nudity.

Eetu has expressed his discomfort with the situation to his mother, who initially reacted defensively but has since acknowledged the issue. Eetu now feels that consent should be a priority in sharing any future images or content involving him. He aims to raise awareness about the potential emotional toll of such online sharing on children, emphasizing to parents that children are not their property and stressing the importance of respecting their privacy.