Engl. transl.: Shut up and smile: a study of the attitudes, experiences and practices of photographing and sharing images of children in Ireland

"This research responds to changing sensitivities toward the photographing of children. It investigates Irish adults’ attitudes toward and practices around the capturing and sharing of everyday images of children across both traditional and social media platforms. Drawing on previous work by (Cohen, 1972), Higonnet (1998), Holland (2004) and Rose (2010) the study considers how contemporary discourses around childhood, children’s rights, paedophilia, privacy, consent and Internet safety are impacting on the practices and attitudes of adults in Ireland around the everyday photographing of children. Applying a mixed-methods approach, the research is based on surveys and individual interviews. Data was analysed from 360 online and offline surveys. A thematic analysis of this data set generated themes further explored through 12 semi-structured interviews. Supported by field notes gathered during interviews noting the archiving, display and sharing of images of children in participants homes, this design allowed for the triangulation of the data that resulted in a rich and complex analysis of contemporary attitudes and practices in Ireland. The study finds that a range of contemporary discourses exert a very significant and tangible effect on how people think about and engage in practices of photographing and sharing images of children. Finally, the research considers what longer-term impact this is likely to have on family photography, memories of childhood and attitudes toward childhood more generally".

"The study finds that a range of contemporary discourses exert a very significant and tangible effect on how people think about and engage in practices of photographing and sharing images of children. Finally, the research considers what longer-term impact this is likely to have on family photography, memories of childhood and attitudes toward childhood more generally"