You’re eight years old, locked in your room after hours of filming under hot lights, starving because you weren’t allowed to eat until the “perfect take” was finished. You begged to stop hours ago, but your parents yelled that you were being ungrateful–that the family needs this video to pay the bills.
When you finally collapse in tears, exhausted and shaking, the camera keeps rolling. “This is great content,” they say. Minutes later, the video is online, and thousands of strangers flood the comments with opinions about your body, your attitude and how “dramatic” you are. Tomorrow, the camera will be there, ready for you.
Being forced to perform for views and have their emotions exploited for content is a disturbing reality some child influencers face. In a digital era where social media has reshaped personal lives into public spectacles, including the blending of fame with family life, there is a greater risk of children being treated as tools for profit.
With the release of the upcoming “Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” on April 9, and the already-released “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke,” these documentaries shed light on what goes on behind the camera, exposing the darker side of child influencer culture.
With themes of abuse and sexualization explored in these documentaries, important questions arise about the roles parents, companies and fans must play in protecting child influencers from such exploitation.
What can parents do?
Parents who push their children into the spotlight for wealth or fame are contributing to a cycle of exploitation. It is crucial that whenever parents consider involving their children in the influencer world, they must reevaluate their motivations for doing so.
Parents must ensure that their child’s mental and emotional health is the primary concern before chasing a status of one million followers. They need to respect their child’s right to privacy, as well as have open conversations with them about their experiences online — whether positive or negative — to ensure they feel supported.
What can companies do?
Companies should implement stricter guidelines for content involving minors. This can include compulsory content checks and age-appropriate standards to monitor the content child influencers post and ensure it is suitable for their age. I believe that keeping children safe from exploitation should be prioritized first, even if it means limiting their ability to post freely.
Companies can also implement a system of regular check-ins with child influencers upon reaching a certain number of followers or consistent engagement rate. Independent advocates will conduct this process to assess their well-being rather than relying on what parents report. Moreover, requiring reporting of work hours and financial compensation for children ensures they are not overworked for profit.
Some progress has already been made in protecting child influencers. Utah’s protective legislation requires parents who earn more than $150,000 annually from social media to set aside a portion of the income in a trust for their children. It also gives minors the right to request content removal once they turn 18, according to a Wall Street Journal article by Zusha Elinson.
What can fans do?
Fans hold the most powerful tool in preventing or exposing exploitation: Their voice, as their support directly determines which content thrives. It is essential that when viewers suspect a child is posting content against their will, they should speak up by commentating, drawing greater awareness to the issue.
Fans can also be more proactive with regards to the kind of content they support. Viewers can support creators who prioritize ethical practices and the well-being of their children. Their collective actions can influence which content gains prominence, creating a more positive online environment for children.
How can parents, companies and fans work together?
For each group to perform their respective functions in keeping children safe, I believe they should use a system of checks and balances.
If parents are not prioritizing their children’s happiness and instead using them as tools for profit, companies can step in by implementing stricter guidelines for content involving minors. If companies fail to enforce these guidelines, potentially due to a lack of awareness, fans can raise awareness by speaking out against exploitative content.
By doing so, fans accomplish two things: They compel creators to post content that is ethical and prioritizes children’s safety and well-being, or, if creators do not change, they encourage companies to implement the necessary guidelines to prevent parents from exploiting their children for content.
Some critics argue that restricting child influencers’ content limits their free speech, but true expression requires autonomy, not coercion. Many children don’t choose to be online–parents control their presence for profit at times. Protecting them isn’t silencing them; it ensures they reclaim their childhood and future.
