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University of Essex
University of Essex
Are you still unsure what you want to study? The Summer Webinar Series is back with exciting sessions designed to spark curiosity and help Year 11-13 students explore subjects beyond the classroom. at University of Essex

Law Taster: Did You Consent to Your Online Childhood? Sharenting Risks Explored

University event offered by University of Essex

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Short Session  Delivered online

Are you still unsure what you want to study? The Summer Webinar Series is back with exciting sessions designed to spark curiosity and help Year 11-13 students explore subjects beyond the classroom.
Available dates
6th July 2026
show all dates
Suitable for
Events for School and College Groups (Ages 14-16)
Events for School and College Groups (Ages 16-18)
Events for College Groups (Ages 19+)
Events for individuals (enquiry not required to be through a school)

Full event details

Time: 4 – 5PM

Speaker: 
Dr Francis Rees, Lecturer in Law and Co-ordinator for the Child Influencer Project.

What's it about?:

Many young people already have a digital footprint before they are old enough to use social media themselves, as parents may have shared their children's photos, videos, and stories online. These practices, now commonly framed as “sharenting”, may have seemed harmless or funny at the time, but they also can create a permanent digital record of a child's lived (or created) experiences.
This talk asks a simple question: What happens when your childhood is posted online before you were old enough to agree to it?

We will explore how sharenting shapes young people’s digital identity, sometimes in ways they cannot control. Images shared of babies, or young children, may still appear online years later, potentially affecting privacy, safety, reputation, and even future opportunities.

Rather than blaming parents or social media, the session encourages students to think critically about how childhood, privacy, and identity are changing in the digital age, and what rights young people should have over their own digital representations.

Attending our webinars is a great way to explore your subject interests while gaining experience that can strengthen your personal statement.

Sign up to the whole Summer Series and then choose which sessions you would like to attend on the booking portal. 

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Enquire about this event

Available dates
6th July 2026
show all dates
Suitable for
Events for School and College Groups (Ages 14-16)
Events for School and College Groups (Ages 16-18)
Events for College Groups (Ages 19+)
Events for individuals (enquiry not required to be through a school)
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