Shari Franke, a former child YouTube star, criticizes family vlogging: "At what cost do you sacrifice your childhood?"

A former child YouTube star is warning against family vlogging, stating that there is "no justification for exposing your kids online for financial gain or fame."

Shari Franke, who was featured on the family's 8 Passengers YouTube channel, addressed the Utah House of Representatives about the ethical and financial challenges of being a child influencer.

"Family vlogging has evolved into a full-time job for children who become child influencers. Franke explained that it involves employees, business credit cards, managers, and marketing strategies. Unlike a typical business, the employees in family vlogging are all children, who are the stars of family businesses on YouTube, Instagram, and other social media platforms."

Franke stated that family vlogging may seem like a lucrative business opportunity, but it can also result in families pressuring their children to post humiliating content online for financial gain. There are no legal regulations that ensure children will receive payment for their work.

"If we filmed an embarrassing moment or an exciting event, we would be rewarded with $100 or a shopping trip, she remembered. Alternatively, going on vacation was considered payment enough because most kids don't get to go on regular and expensive trips. The child's labor paid for the vacation or trip."

The former influencer stated that children are exposed to constant work under this system, and their personal lives are affected by the publicity.

"Franke shared with the legislature that some of their most popular videos were when their eyebrow was accidentally waxed off, resulting in a crying teenager who just wanted to mourn in private. Additionally, Franke experienced being violently ill and got the leading role in the video for that day. However, their friends became scarce as dates were filmed, and none of them wanted to be on camera. Franke emphasized that the camera never stops, and there is no such thing as a vacation from filming."

Family vloggers' children may not comprehend the long-term effects of their videos on their future.

"Although it is generally understood that children cannot give consent, some people believe that family vlogging is an exception. However, I have come to realize that filming as a child has had a significant impact on me. My social media has been plagued with rumors of inappropriate relationships with my brother, and I was labeled a 'baby birthing machine' at the age of 13. These experiences have left a lasting impression on me, and I will always be remembered as the person I was during those years. Furthermore, pedophiles are a significant threat to child influencers, and parents are aware of this. Despite this, they continue to post their children online."

The former star states that although she did not request a legislative ban on family vlogging, her ultimate goal is to achieve it.

"As child influencers in Utah grow older, I predict that legal crises will arise due to these children realizing the emotional distress caused by vlogging. Alternatively, these kids may realize that they were not compensated fairly for their forced labor, leading to legal issues. The question arises: how can a child determine their rightful earnings when they have no knowledge of their parent's financial situation?"

"She emphasized that no amount of money can justify sacrificing one's soul, especially as a child. In no other industry would unregulated child labor be justified with a large paycheck, and she believed the same should not be done in this industry. If she could go back in time, she would rather have an empty bank account and not have her childhood tarnished by the internet. No amount of money she received could make what she experienced worth it."

Franke, whose mother was arrested for child abuse, told the legislature that she was not speaking as a "daughter of a felon, nor a victim of an abnormally abusive mother," but as a victim of family vlogging.

"Franke stated that family vlogging is not a moral or ethical practice. He questioned the value of sacrificing one's childhood for fame and attention. Ruby's actions only exacerbated the negative impact of family vlogging on his innocence."