As the first generation of children raised in the social media era reaches adulthood, many are advocating for laws to protect kids from their parents' oversharing online. These young adults, like Cam Barrett, have experienced significant mental health impacts from having their private lives publicly documented and monetized. Advocates are pushing for financial compensation for children featured in monetized content and the right to delete unwanted posts. States like Illinois have begun passing laws to address these issues, and similar legislation is being considered in other states.
Former family vlogger Ruby Franke and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt are set to be sentenced for child abuse after pleading guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse. The case gained public attention due to their family vlogging channel and controversial parenting style. Franke's husband filed for divorce, and Franke is pursuing personal growth and rehabilitation while apologizing to and trying to reconcile with her family.
Shyla Walker, a former family vlogger on YouTube, has spoken out about the risks of exposing children to online predators through family vlogging. Walker, who started a channel with her boyfriend documenting their lives, became uncomfortable with the exploitation of her child and the potential safety risks. She decided to end her family channel and no longer show her child's face online. Concerns have been raised about the non-consensual use of children's images and the creation of fake profiles that sexualize children. Walker regrets not realizing sooner how innocent photos can be used in not-so-innocent ways and urges parents to be cautious about sharing their children's lives online.
