According to recent studies, approximately 78% of all American citizens currently have some form of social media profile. However, it’s apparent that not all social media users have a sound understanding of keeping private lives private.
An 18-year old in Austria is suing her parents for exactly that reason.
In order to convince her parents to remove nearly 500 embarrassing and private childhood photos from the social media site, the Carinthia, Austria native has opted to sue them.
“They knew no shame and no limit,” she said, adding that she wished to remain anonymous. “They didn’t care whether it was a picture of me sitting on the toilet or lying naked in my cot — every stage was photographed and then made public.”
Michael Rami, her lawyer, believes that he can win the case by proving that all of the photos posted violate her right to privacy as an adult.
Some countries, like France, have laws regarding these actions, in which violating your children’s privacy can result in fines and jail time. However, Austria has no such laws, which means this court case has a long way to go.
While children born in the age of social media have to worry about these things, those born before had the opportunity to live their live in relative privacy.
Even a lucky few celebrities like Mara Wilson got to live through their childhood stardom without having their lives dissected online.
Despite that, Wilson didn’t escape the social media age entirely.
In her new book Where Am I Now?, she reveals that a search led her to the horrifying discovery of her picture on a foot-fetish site for child stars.
“I think the world is waking up to the idea that privacy isn’t really something that we all have anymore,” said Wilson. “And that comes as no surprise to me … I’ve been living my life as if there were no privacy for a very long time.”
Rather than letting the Internet dissect her life, Wilson now uses it to her advantage. The former child star has a large presence on Twitter and on Facebook.
Although a little older than child stars like Demi Lovato and Emma Watson, Wilson still uses her position to speak out online, while not having grown up under its scrutiny.
For those born in the age of social media, however, privacy is even more scarce.
The Austrian native suing her parents is, unfortunately, one of those unlucky individuals whose entire childhood has been made public.
“I’m tired of not being taken seriously by my parents,” she said.