Many influencers use their children to make money online, but the kids don’t always get a say. They might not understand what it means to have their pictures or videos shared with millions of people. Some parents don’t ask their kids if they’re okay with it; even if they do, young children may not fully understand what they are agreeing to. This can lead to their privacy being taken away just so their parents can gain more followers and money. If state lawmakers implemented stronger regulations for child influencers, it would protect them from exploitation.
This is the case with Ryan Kaji, aka Ryan’s World, and his parents. The article, “You’re on Your Own, Kid Influencers” states that the twelve-year-old influencer Ryan Kaji, the star of Ryan’s World, makes $30 million a year on YouTube but doesn’t have any legal rights to the money. His parents, however, can do whatever they want with the money—which, legally, is all right, but they’re blatantly showing in interviews that they aren’t willing to give him his hard-earned money, and that’s just wrong.
Another example of exploitation is a personal experience from Shari Franke, who “recently testified to US lawmakers about the dangers of family vlogging,” according to the article, “Former ‘Child Influencer’ Speaks Up About Exploitation.” Shari is a former “child influencer.” She says most of her more defenseless moments have been shared online without her consent. She intends to “raise awareness about the exploitation of children in the vlogging industry and the lack of protections for them.” On the strength of Shari’s testimony, her mother, Ruby Franke, was imprisoned for child abuse. This highlights the need for vigorous laws to safeguard kids on the internet.
To address these issues, state lawmakers should implement stronger regulations to protect child influencers from exploitation. One potential solution is to create laws similar to the Coogan Law, named after the child actor Jackie Coogan. It protects the earnings of minors in the entertainment industry by requiring a portion of their earnings to be placed in a blocked trust account, often called a “Coogan account,” until they turn 18, which ensures that a portion of a child influencer’s earnings is set aside for them in a trust. This would guarantee that child influencers receive their fair share of the money they generate. Additionally, stricter guidelines should be established to require parental consent that prioritizes the child’s best interests rather than financial gain. Social media platforms should also take responsibility by enforcing age-appropriate content rules and offering better privacy protections for minors. By implementing these changes, society can help prevent children from being used for profit and ensure they have control over their digital presence.
