By Molly Anderson
In this age of constant connectivity, children are growing up not just in front of their parents but also in front of millions of strangers. Social media has turned everyday family interactions into content and even a source of income. Even though many parents claim that their goal is to spread joy or creativity through their content, in reality, thousands of children are being exploited for views and profit. The worst part of this trend has been shown by the case of Ruby Franke, the creator of the popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers. At one point, the family channel, which followed Franke’s six children’s daily routines, marketed itself as wholesome and religious. However, when police discovered two of Franke’s children malnourished and injured in 2023, she and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested for aggravated child abuse. The suspicions of many viewers who had long criticized Franke’s strict parenting style were confirmed when both women pled guilty to multiple counts of child abuse, according to the Associated Press. The Guardian reported that Franke’s eldest daughter, Shari, said, “The nice version of her was manufactured for YouTube.” Franke’s situation was extreme, but it’s not unique. There are now major worries about minors being exposed online due to the growth of influencer groups like The Glow House on TikTok. The group consists of creators of various ages, some as young as 13, who work together to produce videos and attend public events. Parties with mature content have been a feature of some of these events, making the atmosphere unsuitable and possibly dangerous for younger attendees. Social media posts that appear to be harmless fun frequently conceal the fact that children are often put in adult-only situations. Several states have started looking into how TikTok’s influencer culture exposes children to adult settings while rewarding these interactions with increased visibility and financial gain, according to a 2024 Guardian report. In response to public pressure, some states have begun to act. Illinois and California have introduced laws requiring parents to set aside a portion of influencer earnings for their underage children, similar to protections that exist for traditional child actors. But as the New York Times pointed out in 2024, “these policies remain rare, and enforcement is inconsistent across platforms.” Ultimately, the issue extends beyond a need for a legal solution. It’s more about ethics and responsibility. Parents and social media companies must question whether the need for digital fame is worth the lifelong exposure of a child’s life and the mental health repercussions that go along with that. According to Time Magazine, experts warn that “growing up in constant public view can lead to long-term emotional harm and loss of privacy that no amount of money can undo.” Sharing family moments may start innocently, but when like counts and sponsorships become the only goal of the platform, the line between a comforting community and straight labor blurs. Without the resources to protect themselves, children are at an extremely vulnerable place in their careers and mental health. Protecting children online isn’t about silencing expression in teens; it’s about ensuring that the next generation grows up valued for what they create, not for how many views they get on a post.
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