The Child Star

How Content Creation is Creating a Lasting Digital Footprint

by Isabella Hobbs

Graphic by Ian Nugent

If you were to scroll on social media for just a few minutes, you will likely see all the usual content: perhaps a “Get Ready With Me,” “Help me choose an outfit,” or maybe some videos more specific to your interests. But at some point, you may have stumbled upon a family content creator. 

There are some popular names that come to my head right now, as I’m sure there are for you as well. They pack their kids lunch, they run errands that consist of Target and Starbucks, and somehow try and promote “realistic” mom content while showing the most unrealistic lifestyle possible. 

This content has been the face of many critiques and controversies in the last few years due to the fact that these parents often post their children’s faces, names, hometowns and even school districts on social media. 

Whether it’s before they’ve even said their first words, or because they are not able to grasp the longevity and massivity of the internet, children are not able to consent to be a form of entertainment for millions or to be the breadwinner for their family. 

Many family creators have tried to combat this by revealing they have a savings account for their child that includes part of the profit from videos the child stars in, which they will receive when they turn 18. This seemed to settle some critics who argued that most children would be more than happy to turn 18 and open that savings account. 

But I don’t find this a suitable explanation. 

Social media has a permanence and durability that we as a society haven’t even fully grasped yet—one that has caused older generations to joke, “Thank God we didn’t have social media to capture all the stupid stuff we used to do.” Because social media can ruin lives. And it has. 

Parents are posting their children's most intimate childhood memories, embarrassing moments, mistakes and milestones, full names, birthdays, hometowns, schools, without a care in the world. This opens up the child to incomprehensible danger. The risks include online predators, identity theft, but most commonly the complete removal of a child's autonomy. 

When they reach an age where they are able to comprehend that their whole childhood and private memories have been shared for the whole world to see—including friends, potential employers or people with much more sinister intentions—how will that child feel like they have any control over their own life anymore? 

Kids don’t belong on social media. They are not able to consent, and aren’t able to understand the permanence of these posts. They are not privy to the dangerous parts of the web that their parents are exposing them to. 

Using children for content or money is something we as a society cannot turn a blind eye to anymore, not without also becoming an active participant in the exploitation of a child.