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Child content for profit: Ministry issues warning

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has issued an urgent warning to parents, guardians and caregivers over the increasing number of photographs and videos of children being shared on social media platforms.

The Ministry said the expansion of monetisation features on platforms such as Facebook has contributed to a growing trend of individuals and organisations using children’s photographs and videos for commercial purposes. Such content is sometimes presented as a way of showcasing children’s talents or everyday activities, with or without the knowledge or consent of their parents or guardians.

Authorities warned that regularly posting videos showing children’s daily routines, homes, schools and activities could expose them to serious risks to their privacy and personal safety.

The Ministry also raised concerns about the misuse of children’s photographs and videos through artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Images shared online can potentially be manipulated or repurposed to create explicit or otherwise harmful content.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry urged parents, guardians and all individuals responsible for children to exercise extreme caution when sharing content involving minors on social media.