Cam, international advocate for children of influencers and family vloggers, shares her experience growing up as a child of a mommy blogger. She discusses the dark side of family vlogging, including child exploitation and lack of privacy. Topics covered: high-profile cases, oversharing, consent, ethical concerns, negative impact on children, and advocacy efforts against online exploitation.
Family vlogging can lead to child exploitation and lack of regulation, with severe emotional and psychological consequences for the children involved.
Children in family vlogging channels are often subject to overexposure and even sexualization, impacting their self-perception, sense of safety, and ability to form genuine connections.
Many children in family vlogging channels lack control over their earnings and personal narratives, leading to financial abuse and hindered decision-making abilities.
Deep dives
The Dark Side of Family Vlogging
Family vlogging is a niche on social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram where parents make their child the focal point of their content. However, this practice can lead to child exploitation and lack of regulation. One high-profile case is the Ruby Frankie case in which a popular family vlogging channel called 'Eight Passengers' came under scrutiny for alleged child abuse. The parents were monetizing their channel but the children were not receiving any payment. Many children in family vlogging channels do not receive any compensation for their participation. The lack of privacy and constant exposure to online audiences can have severe emotional and psychological consequences for children, impacting their relationships and sense of safety.
The Effects of Overexposure and Sexualization
Children in family vlogging channels are often subject to overexposure and even sexualization. Parents may exploit their children for views and monetization, potentially attracting inappropriate attention from adults. The lack of privacy and control over their own narrative can have long-lasting effects on the child's self-perception, sense of safety, and ability to form genuine connections. The detrimental impact of such exposure can extend into adulthood, perpetuating feelings of paranoia and vulnerability.
Lack of Financial and Personal Autonomy
Many children in family vlogging channels do not have control over their own earnings or personal narratives. While parents monetize their children's participation, the children themselves often receive no compensation or financial independence. This lack of autonomy can lead to financial abuse and hinder the child's ability to make decisions about their own lives. Additionally, the children's preferences and discomfort with being on camera are often disregarded, reinforcing feelings of powerlessness and isolation.
Exploitation and Vulnerability of Children on Social Media
The podcast episode discusses the negative impact of posting personal and vulnerable moments of children on social media. The speaker shares personal experiences of being exploited and bullied because of content posted by their parents. They highlight the fear of the public having access to embarrassing or traumatic moments, which can be weaponized against them. The episode emphasizes the importance of considering a child's perspective and consent when sharing personal information online. The speaker suggests that parents should put themselves in their child's shoes and evaluate whether they would want their personal information shared without consent.
Ethical Considerations for Sharing Children's Lives Online
The episode raises the question of whether it is possible to responsibly share children's lives online in a family vlogging channel. A video clip from a family vlogger is presented, where a father discusses deleting videos upon his children's request, acknowledging the importance of their autonomy and consent. The discussion stresses the need to differentiate between ethical and exploitative practices in sharing children's lives online. The speaker urges parents to think critically about the content they share and to avoid sharing personal, vulnerable, or embarrassing moments without the child's consent. They argue that conversations about parenthood can be had without exploiting children.
If you have much experience with family vlogs, chances are that today’s topic has crossed your mind. My guest, Cam, is here to share her personal experience growing up as the child of one of the first well-known “Mommy bloggers.” Cam is an international advocate for children of influencers and family vloggers. She takes a stand against child exploitation, going as far as speaking to lawmakers and appearing in documentaries. Her perspective will give us all something to think about. Join us to learn more!
Show Highlights:
● How to understand what family vlogging is
● Cam’s take on two high-profile cases involving family vlogs that have been in the headlines
● Cam’s experience as a child when her life was on display through her mom’s blog
● What happens to a child when a parent overshares about their lives
● How controversy always causes people to “click”--and more clicks mean more money!
● The effect of growing up with a lack of privacy that caused embarrassment and vulnerability in Cam
● Why consent is at the heart of this issue for kids
● Can family vlogging be done ethically?
● Why it can be devastating to feel exposed by the people who should protect you the most
● Cam’s advocacy efforts to keep children from being exploited online
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