In a digital age where sharing content on social media is almost inevitable, it is common to see adults who post their children on social media and even “family channels” which solely focus on showcasing their family unit as relatable. The spectrum ranges from dedicated content creators who consistently post milestones and routines, to creators who occasionally feature their kids on their account. Unfortunately, the digital era has its own consequences, and posting children on social media in any capacity should be something taken very seriously. This content can seem like harmless entertainment, but it comes at the cost of the wellbeing of children. 

The biggest issue that is introduced once a person decides to post their children on a platform is the irreversible loss of privacy. When an adult makes the conscious decision to include their children on their social media account, they do not realize that children may lack the ability to have a meaningful say in whether moments of their lives, medical conditions or daily life are shared with potentially millions of people. After being posted, their digital footprint is permanent even if the creator decides to remove it. A common example is on TikTok, where a mother may post the daily routine of her children but may later decide to delete it after the audience raises questions about a certain aspect of the routine. However, several viewers could have already screen recorded the video, so the post has not truly been removed. Posting children can expose them to people who are looking to bully, commit identity theft or exploit them for other purposes. Sexual exploitation remains a risk, since it is difficult to gauge a new and wide audience of family channels. Predatory online users use this as an opportunity to share content with other predators and harass creators. Despite how alarming this can be, several creators continue to post their very young kids during their most vulnerable moments and unintentionally create an uncomfortable environment. This makes it difficult for normal viewers to enjoy otherwise wholesome material. Even in the future, potential peers and strangers could discover these posts when they search for someone who is now an adult online.

Children lack the developmental milestones to consent to social media exposure and likely do not understand the long-term consequences they may face through digital exposure. Often, adults will post their personal life stories and moments that display their personality to generate revenue, invite sponsorships and get brand deals. These creators may start as casual posters who provide entertainment, but, slowly and surely, they are enticed by the idea of financial potential. In these scenarios, children become unpaid workers for which their personal and private moments of growing and learning become moments of financial gain for adults. One example is Ruby Franke and the “8 Passengers” Youtube channel in which her daughter testified that her mother had taken all the earnings that were generated from their videos. The children of influencers’ roles are no different from child actors who are managed poorly and do not have access to a support system that ensures their well-being over potential profits. In other contexts, this is seen as child labor, which society and governing bodies have deemed illegal.

Children who spend a majority of their time growing up in front of a camera with a wide audience are prone to experience issues with normal psychological and emotional development. They may struggle to distinguish between genuine familial connections and staged dynamics that are used to create amusing content. Their personal achievements are tied to marketability, and they can have trouble separating their value as a person from their ability to be entertaining. Internalizing this belief might make them believe that their only worth is hinged on performing for people and that this is what makes them likeable. This phenomenon regularly invites long-lasting effects on self-esteem, trust and individuality. A once-popular pranking channel, DaddyOFive, was known for the parents of five children who “pranked” them for content. However, the pranks became borderline emotional abuse and the children suffered mental flashbacks of being yelled at or slapped.

Although intentions can be well meaning, a troubling reality hides behind carefully edited and catered content. It is challenging to ensure kids are not being taken advantage of emotionally or financially behind the screen. It is up to adults and responsible individuals to create an environment that focuses on ethically sourced content and remind people that childhood is a lively yet personal lived experience that should never be used as a business model.