The Hidden Dangers of Kidfluencing: When Childhood Becomes Content

The Hidden Dangers of Kidfluencing: When Childhood Becomes Content

By Lorraine Aguti

 

In today's hyper-connected digital culture, children are having their lives presented increasingly online to global audiences. What initially began as harmless milestone posting—first words, birthdays, or humorous clips—has become a profitable enterprise referred to as "kidfluencing." It refers to children who, through numerous instances in many cases via their parents' behavior, become social media influencers. These kids appear in commercialized videos on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, touting everything from toys to clothing to snacks. Beyond the smiling faces and viral clips, however, are complex ethical, legal, and psychological concerns that the public can no longer ignore.

 

Kidfluencing raises a novel privacy concern. Children's most intimate moments—from doctor's appointments to tantrums—are regularly shared up without their consent, leaving an indelible online trail. These digital files follow children into their teenage years and subsequently, sometimes humiliating them with humiliation, ridicule, or even bullying. Per a published study in the Journal of Pediatrics (2023), most of over 90% of U.S. children acquire an internet presence before they reach the age of two, often without their knowledge or permission in the future. In extreme cases, excessive exposure has resulted in safety threats. The photographs of kids have been found recycled for unwanted websites, whereas school schedules or household settings detailed allowed stalking and other risks (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).

 

Even more disturbing is the issue of consent and exploitation. Kids lack the cognitive maturity to understand how their image is being used or how their participation is being commodified. However, they are generally more frequently than not killed and post-edited into material that financially rewards their families. Unlike previous child actors, who were shielded by customary labor law, kidfluencers primarily fall in a gray area of the law. In countries like the United States, there is no customary policy to ensure that children's income from digital work is protected. To combat this, France passed a landmark law in 2020 that forces parents to keep profits from the social media posts of their children in a secured trust until the age of (The Shelf, 2023).

 

Increasing numbers of evidence are mounting that the long-term consequence of internet fame has a detrimental effect on children's psychological and emotional development. To be trained to entertain, perform, or smile at command creates unhealthy perfectionism. Teen Vogue (2024) reported cases in which former child influencers suffered from anxiety, burnout, and identity confusion. They found it difficult to disentangle their real self from their online persona—ones manufactured and polished by parents desperate for engagement rates. Such children may also develop the notion that they are worth something depending on likes, shares, and brand endorsements rather than on merit or their inherent value.

 

In extreme cases, commodification turns coercive. There have been a number of high-profile cases exposing the seedy underbelly of vlogging families. In 2021, YouTubers Myka and James Stauffer caused global outrage after they "rehomed" their adopted son after showcasing him in monetized videos for years. They were accused of using the child as material rather than as a member of the family. Similarly, in 2023, the Franke family YouTube vlog channel, "8 Passengers," exposed neglect and abuse and how the content pressure can beat a child's well-being (Business Insider, 2025).

 

Aside from these dreadful examples, the everyday psychological effects of sharenting—parents posting details about their offspring—are equally alarming. Studies have illustrated that kids whose lives become excessively exposed online experience a loss of identity control. They can become way too self-conscious, unaware of what parts of their life are really private. Duke University researchers state that this type of behavior can lead to issues in family life and trust, especially as children grow older and notice how much they're exposed (Duke University, 2024).

 

Despite these dangers, kid content continues to fill the pockets of tech platforms. Children's YouTube channels are among the best-paying content on the platform. Ryan Kaji, a 12-year-old from Texas, reportedly made $27 million in 2020 from toy review videos (Forbes, 2021). While Kaji’s parents have stated that they are managing his earnings responsibly, not all families have similar transparency or ethical frameworks. With millions of dollars at stake, the temptation to prioritize views over children’s needs is real and pressing.

 

Support for increased regulation is building. In addition to France's law, Illinois enacted a law (taking effect July 2024) requiring that parents who profit from children's social media earnings share some of the money with the child. Activists and scholars argue that this should become an international standard, as well as parental education, platform accountability, and online literacy training for parents and kids.

 

Kidfluencing is a symptom of a broader societal problem: the commodification of children becoming normalized for public consumption. At an age where privacy is a luxury, children are having their right to anonymity taken away before they even understand it. As adults, we must ask ourselves if we are safeguarding children's futures—or pricing them up for likes.

 

Childhood should be a safe place, where there is no pressure of performing and the burden of online celebrity. As social media has developed, so must our legal and ethical frameworks. Until then, the responsibility falls on parents, legislators, and platforms to do justice to the dignity of childhood and safeguard it from exploitation under the cover of content.

 

References

  • Cleveland Clinic. (2024). The hidden dangers of sharenting: Why parents should think twice before posting about their kids online. Retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/sharenting
  • Duke University. (2024). Digital childhoods and identity development. Duke Digital Repository. Retrieved from https://dukespace.lib.duke.edu/items/65cc3e19-60f0-41bb-a578-5d1ac53bb78a
  • Forbes. (2021, January 12). The highest-paid YouTubers of 2020. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2021/01/12/the-highest-paid-youtubers-of-2020
  • Journal of Pediatrics. (2023). Sharenting and children's digital privacy: A growing concern. The Journal of Pediatrics, 250, 12-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.01.018
  • Teen Vogue. (2024). Children of influencers are speaking out about being exploited by their parents. Retrieved from https://www.teenvogue.com/story/influencer-parents-children-social-media-impact
  • The Shelf. (2023). Kid influencer laws around the world: Where do children stand? Retrieved from https://www.theshelf.com/the-blog/kid-influencer-laws
  • Business Insider. (2025, April 2). States are cracking down on family vloggers as concerns over child exploitation grow. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/states-cracking-down-mommy-bloggers-millennial-parents-influencers-2025-4

 

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