Kareem Rahma’s Subway Takes keeps our feeds aflame with scorching perspectives, and the latest episode of his popular web series asks straight-up questions of people making influencers and social media stars of their children.
In a video posted Wednesday, far from the New York Subway, the host took the London Tube with British content creator, podcaster, and presenter Shelen, who had strong words about parents who constantly feature their kids in TikTok videos.
“Forcing your child to do a TikTok is child labor,” she said. “I’m not talking to parents who have a child and the child pops up in a vlog every now and again. I’m not talking to people who capture an organically, genuinely hilarious moment, post it on the internet, and we all laugh. I’m talking about the parents that make their child clock in, like they need to earn their keep.”
“Content work is real work,” agrees Rahma. “I do it. It’s hard. It’s hard work.”
In a precise, no-nonsense argument, Shelen comprehensively unpacks the legal and ethical problems with parents making money from online videos featuring their kids, including the profits involved, risks of online child sexual exploitation, parents giving away the rights to their children’s images, and the possibility of their likeness being manipulated by AI, which is a growing issue.
Mashable Top Stories
“People are thinking, Shelen, you know what? Posting my child is easy money. Yes, that tends to be the law behind child labor. Do you know what I’m saying? It doesn’t make it OK,” Shelen added.
Currently, there are no specific UK child labour laws regulating child influencers or creators. Children under 14 can work part-time in entertainment industries including TV and theatre, though they’ll need a performance licence and parental consent and supervision, and they won’t qualify for the National Minimum Wage until they’re 16. Kids can only start full-time work, for up to 40 hours a week, after 16. None of this applies to influencers or content creators. The existing child labour laws weren’t designed with influencers or content creation in mind, leaving a potential regulatory gap that could be exploited.
In the U.S., the law varies by state. In 2023, Illinois become the first state in America to pass a law protecting child influencers, allowing kids under 16 “in an artistic or creative service” to sue if they’re not paid for featuring in their parent or guardians’ online content. California, Minnesota, and Utah have since followed suit with similar laws.
“I feel like one day laws will change, society will change, these kids will grow up, and they will sue their asses,” said Shelen in her Subway Takes episode. “And I can’t wait to watch.”
Read more of Mashable’s creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts.
Topics
Family & Parenting
Creators
