As relações paterno/materno/filiais num ambiente em constante transformação: as redes sociais e suas implicações na família

Abstract

This article analyzes the family institution and its changing framework, as the family is an institution in constant transformation, accompanying the social, cultural, and legal changes that have marked different historical periods. From the patriarchal and patrimonialist model prevailing in the Middle Ages to the consolidation of values such as equality and affection in the current Brazilian legal system, we observe a trajectory that shifts the centrality of authority and patrimony to horizontal and affective bonds. In the current scenario, this historical process is challenged by the impact of the information society and, especially, by the spread of social networks, which reconfigure the family experience in fundamental aspects such as privacy, communication, and child development. This bibliographical research aims to analyze the effects of digital exposure on family relationships, with an emphasis on the legal, psychological, and social consequences of this reality. Among the emerging phenomena, sharenting stands out, a practice characterized by the sharing of information and images of children by their guardians in virtual environments. Although often associated with benefits, such as generating engagement and profit, this behavior poses significant risks, ranging from the undue exploitation of image to cybercrimes that compromise the physical and emotional integrity of minors. In this context, the law has increasingly sought to provide responses through specific regulations, such as the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), the Internet Civil Rights Framework, and the Child and Adolescent Statute (ECA). These instruments seek to balance the freedom of expression of guardians with the need to protect the dignity and best interests of the child, consolidating a legal framework suited to the demands of the digital age. This study, therefore, aims to contribute to a critical understanding of the influence of social media on family dynamics, highlighting the urgent need for interdisciplinary reflections in addressing the challenges posed by digital exposure, especially in order to protect minors.