Framing matters. The headline author chose what they thought would be the most salient feature of the class of affected people—or it was chosen for them, by precedent. And I take issue with the idea that we are in any meaningful way "consumers" of Equifax (one interpretation) or that we are best described in an offhand way as taking a passive role in society (another interpretation). Even if the latter is often true, it's something to struggle against, not accept as The Way of Things.
Are you a child, a parent, a sibling, or a citizen?
Or are you all of those things depending on context?
I get what you're saying, but you chose a way of expressing it which invites immediate response.