AS AN EXAMPLE OF DIGITAL FOOTPRINT LINKED TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; ELLA

This study aims to examine the role of digital footprints created using artificial intelligence on the potential negative effects that children may encounter in the future. The research focuses on understanding the tendency of parents to share their children's photos on social media, how this information can be used by artificial intelligence technologies and the possible harms. The main purpose of the research is to measure parents' awareness of digital footprints and artificial intelligence and to develop suggestions to increase this awareness. In this context, the dangers that children's photos shared on social media may pose in terms of privacy, data breach and ethical issues are discussed. The research was conducted with a qualitative method, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 social media user mothers during the data collection process. The participants' reactions to this issue were analyzed using Deutsche Telekom's video titled "Ella's Digital Footprint". The answers obtained from the interviews were analyzed thematically and presented in tables. As a result of the research, it was determined that the majority of parents have limited knowledge about the concept of digital footprint, but they are concerned about the possible harms of social media sharing. The findings reveal that parents need to be more conscious about social media use and that awareness needs to be raised about protecting digital privacy. This study emphasizes the importance of parents taking an ethical approach in their interactions with the digital world.