No child should be used for clout or financial gain on social media platforms in exploitative ways. There need to be local and federal laws in place to prioritize the safety and well-being of all children, but ESPECIALLY foster youth and adoptees. This means legislation that will stop foster parents from pocketing money off of affiliate links/brand sponsorships and allowing adoptive parents to make money off of exploiting their child’s trauma and challenging behaviors while disclosing private medical information  

As an adoptee and adoption educator, I have personally witnessed the damaging effects when adoptive parents prioritize their desires over the needs and well-being of children. This is especially true for those who have experienced trauma and maternal separation. The statistics are alarming - adoptees are four times more likely to attempt suicide and often struggle with mental health issues (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019). Despite this, some adoptive parents exploit our personal stories on social media to build platforms.

Did you know that social media is extremely lucrative? In 2023, I wrote an article titled, "Should Foster and Adoptive Parents Be Allowed to Monetize their Kids?" for The Daily Beast, that explored the scope of problems and potential harm it can cause for this vulnerable group of children.

For more information, please read:

• Child Influencers Make Big Money. Who Gets It?
• How much do YouTubers make? 2023 facts and figures

This exploitation is not only harmful but also ethically wrong. Even when children give their consent, there exists a power imbalance where they often feel pressured to participate. This practice commodifies our experiences, reduces us to content creators for profit, and undermines our dignity as individuals.

Therefore, we must act now to protect vulnerable children from such exploitation. We call upon lawmakers to enact legislation that prohibits foster or adoptive parents from using their children's personal stories or images on social media for monetary gain or platform building.

Please join us in advocating for these necessary protections by signing this petition today.

We are advocating for local and federal legislation to:

• Strengthen existing privacy laws to ensure that the personal information and images of adopted children are adequately protected. This might include restrictions on the publication of certain details without the child's enthusiastic consent.
• Ban foster parents from financial gain from exploiting foster youth in their care from social media via affiliate links, bonuses from social media, sponsorships, etc.
• At the very least, regulate income adoptive parents can receive from content and require parents to set a majority of any income aside for children.
• Extend child labor laws to cover activities on social media. This could involve setting limits on the amount of time children can spend working on social media content for commercial purposes and regulating the types of content they can participate in.
• Allow children to ask and have any content featuring them to be deleted.
• Establish clear guidelines regarding the consent required by children before said child is involved in any commercial or public activities, including social media content creation. Child must display an understanding of the scope of the reach of videos, pictures, etc.
• Strengthen reporting mechanisms on social media platforms to allow users to report instances of child exploitation. Ensure that these reports are taken seriously, and appropriate actions are taken promptly.
• Establish strict penalties for individuals or entities found guilty of exploiting adopted and foster children on social media. These penalties should act as a deterrent and ensure accountability.

What laws are in place to protect social media content featuring children?

At this point there is little legislation that prioritizes the well-being and best interests of children used in family vlogging.

In 2024, an Illinois law that will allow influencers under the age of 16 to sue their parents if funds aren't set aside from their earnings. The bill will also give the children the right to ask that any video that features them be deleted.

Other laws are being introduced to add protections in place for child influencers, but at this point there is no additional protection for adopted and foster children who are at a higher risk of mental health problems and suicide attempts.

We know how much harm can be caused to child actors and are now learning how harmful social media can be for children, so it is imperative to add additional protections for children who are even more at risk for serious harm. 

 

Potential Harm:

Child influencers, while gaining popularity on social media platforms, can face various potential harms and challenges. It's essential to recognize and address these concerns to ensure the well-being and protection of the children involved. Some of the potential harms include:

• Privacy Concerns
  • Child influencers may have their privacy compromised, as their personal lives are shared publicly. This exposure can lead to unwanted attention, potential online harassment, and risks associated with sharing too much personal information.
• Exploitation and Commercialization:
  • Children may be exploited for financial gain by their parents or guardians. The pressure to generate content for monetary purposes can impact the child's well-being, as their childhood experiences may be shaped by the demands of the influencer lifestyle.
• Psychological Impact
  • The constant scrutiny, potential negative comments, and pressure to perform on social media can have psychological effects on child influencers. It may impact their self-esteem, body image, and overall mental health.
• Education and Normal Development
  • Balancing the demands of being an influencer with a child's educational and social development can be challenging. The time spent on content creation, photo shoots, and managing social media accounts may interfere with the child's normal activities and routines.
• Safety Concerns
  • Publicly sharing details about a child's life, such as their location or daily activities, can pose safety risks. It may make them vulnerable to potential exploitation or unwanted attention from strangers.
• Parental Oversight and Responsibility
  • The role of parents or guardians in managing a child influencer's online presence is crucial. In some cases, parents may prioritize financial gain over the child's well-being, leading to potential exploitation and neglect.
• Impact on Relationships
  • The influencer lifestyle may affect relationships within the family, including the dynamics between parents and siblings. The focus on creating content and maintaining an online persona can strain familial relationships.
• Regulatory and Legal Issues
  • Child labor laws, privacy regulations, and advertising standards may be applicable to child influencers. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in legal consequences for both parents and platforms.
• Burnout
  • The demands of maintaining a consistent online presence, dealing with potential negativity, and meeting expectations can contribute to burnout for child influencers. This can have lasting effects on their mental and emotional well-being.

It's important for parents, guardians, and the platforms hosting child influencers to prioritize the child's safety, well-being, and normal development. Establishing guidelines, respecting privacy, and ensuring a healthy balance between online activities and the child's personal life are critical in mitigating potential harms associated with child influencer culture. Additionally, regulatory bodies and platforms should implement and enforce measures to protect child influencers and ensure compliance with relevant laws.