By Kayla DeKraker
Should social media influencers post their children online? One organization says no.
“A generation is growing up with their childhoods documented for millions — before they could consent,” an Instagram post from Quit Clicking Kids, an organization working to stop the exposure and monetization of children online, began.
“At first glance, creating a monetized social media account may appear to be ‘easy money.’ Just grab your kids and a smartphone, and you can build a lucrative career,” the group continued.
But, the post explains, using your kids to pull in followers on social media gives the entire world access to them.
“This is particularly concerning since kids cannot consent to this form of exposure,” the post explained.”When your life is PUBLIC before you understand PRIVACY…how does that shape your identity, trust, and relationship with family?”
Most people in the comment section agree that children should not be posted online.
One user said, “I’ve seen a lot of videos of children throwing tantrums. Imagine being in a vulnerable moment and the people you trust the most flip put their phone and start recording it to get attention on the internet.”
Another person bluntly added, “It is child exploitation in a pretty package.”
Related: How Does Your State Rank for Kids Online Safety?
Quit Clicking Kids believes that the children of influencers “also deserve the right to privacy, something that they have been cruelly denied once they are continuously featured on public social media accounts.”
Legislative changes have been made in some states in the US, including in Washington state and Illinois, which both protect children involved in for-profit vlogging content.
Grown children of influencers are also speaking out about the practice. Twenty-five-year-old Cam Barrett, a “former blogger kid,” urged Maryland to pass child-protective legislation for kids involved in monetized family social media.
“As a former content kid myself, I know what it’s like to grow up with a digital footprint I never asked for,” she told lawmakers in Maryland, per TODAY. “As my mom posted to the world my first ever menstrual cycle, as she posted to the world the intimate details about me being adopted, her platform grew — and I had no say in what was posted.”
Another former child influencer told TODAY, “Some folks seek and access personal information to terrifying lengths. That alone should prevent parents from posting about their children without consent and without discussing safety and love bombing and dangerous adults online.”
Consent isn’t the only issue. The Child Crime and Prevention Safety Center reports that “There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day.” This horrifying number is a reminder of why we need to be careful when it comes to our children and the internet.
Whether innocently sharing a photo of your child or posting them for monetary gain, putting your child’s life online leaves them in an incredibly vulnerable position that takes away their privacy. A safer option? Blur your child’s image or simply don’t post them at all.
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