Wild Card

"Kidfluencers" and Child Exploitation

Social media has become a significant source of entertainment. Social media platforms began as a place for family and friends to socialize on the internet, but it has quickly become a place of competitive influence. Companies use social media for public relations outreach and for advertising their products. For many, they have built their careers on making content on specific platforms. Due to their age demographic, many "influencers" are teenagers; however, "kidfluencers" have become majorly popular with kids when they watch content online. Some parents try to remain ethical when it comes to their children, but it is not surprising that children will become victims of exploitation on social media.

For children in the entertainment industry, there are rules and regulations for safety and for following child labor laws. These laws usually differ between states; however, they are generally the same. Children working in television and film live different lives compared to those who gain traction online. The rules for children in the entertainment industry rarely apply to "kidfluencers."  Being a child movie star is very different from being a child content creator. For example, children in movies are acting, while child influencers are told to "be themselves" while promoting a product for a sum. Again, the primary issue is that the children are not protected under the law like child actors are. Also, will these children see a dime of the money they worked so hard for? 

Usually, when individuals question the parents' motive, they respond that the children have "chosen" to partake in making content because they "enjoy it." It is hard to say if this is true, primarily due to the age of some of the "kidfluencers." Because the internet is relatively new, it is hard to say how being a young content creator will affect them in the future. Specific celebrity individuals have voiced their opinion on growing up in the film industry and how it became potentially harmful to their mental health. For example, child stars such as Macaulay Culkin have been vocal about his mental health and frustration with "how the media portrayed him when he was young and vulnerable." Child influencers are being told to "be themselves," but what will happen when they get older, and their image is all that matters? 

Another issue with child influencers is that you never know who's watching. Parents post their children for views and payment, but at what cost? Pedophiles are all over social media, often under undetected accounts. . It is one of the significant dangers of posting children. Sarah Adams, also known as @mom.uncharted, has uncovered many issues regarding "kidfluencers" and how pedophiles and predators are stalking children. 

@mom.uncharted A hashtag doesn’t seem so innocent once you know who is following it 🥺 #socialmedia #influencers #fyp #fy #parentsoftiktok #protectthechildren ♬ Forever - Labrinth

The ethics regarding children on social media raises a question regarding companies and marketing. Should these companies use child influencers to promote their products, or are they "adding fuel to the fire?" According to Sarah Adams, brands should focus more on working with moms on social media that rarely focus on their kids as influencers: 

"There are amazing mom accounts that don't or seldom feature their children and the brands should focus on collaborating with those individuals." 

There are many "kidfluencers" whose content is solely focused on promoting toys and brands. For example, Ryan Kaji is one of the biggest "kidfluencers" in the world. Ryans' YouTube account, Ryans World, has over 32.4 million followers, and 90% of his content is brand recommendations. Advertising through "kidfluencer" content is not only controversial due to the age of the content creator, but the age of the audience as well. According to The Central Marketing News, Pre-schoolers, also known as Ryan's audience, do not know the difference between organic content and advertising. Not only do companies ask Ryan to review their products, but Ryan has toys and merchandise himself. His face is plastered all over the products, and it is undoubtedly a way for kids to recognize him and buy the product. There is nothing wrong with branding your product, but when is it taken too far? 

Children have a right to be children, meaning the stress and competitiveness of social media should not weigh down children at such a young age. Parents should let their children grow and not portray them as a "paycheck." Furthermore, the audience of these young influencers aren't always children; they are adults. Some of these adults' intentions are not always innocent.  Pedophiles online are prevalent and dangerous. Posting your kids on social media should not be a career but rather a way to relate with your friends and family. Parents are supposed to earn money for the family, and exploiting your children to do it instead is immoral and unethical. There must be something done to prevent child exploitation and protect "kidfluencers" through laws and regulations.