Go on any parent’s or even grandparent’s social media, especially Facebook, and pictures of their kids (or grandkids) will more than likely cover their feed.
Sure, it’s good and harmless to brag about your cute baby and to show your family key moments from the kid’s childhood which were stored away in a photo album.
But where do we draw the line of what is shared and kept private about children online? Keep in mind that they can’t consent to being posted on social media.
This question has resurfaced as YouTube family channels have come under fire for exploiting, and even abusing, their children.
YouTube families have become more common as the generation that grew up with social media and YouTube have children and settle down.
They basically consist of vlogging videos, a format popular on the site, that focus on their family life which includes their children.
Many YouTube families have gained popularity and grown their own fanbases, and with popularity, scandals usually aren’t too far behind.
Such scandals include parents coercing their children to act a certain way for the camera (Jordan Cheyenne), faking or exaggerating their child’s sickness for views (the LaBrant Fam), scaring and humiliating their children for views (Toy Freaks), and downright child abuse have taken place (8 Passengers case).
From the sickening acts of exploitation to the child abuse, it makes you stop and think. Should these YouTube families be allowed on the site?
Of course, not all family channels are bad. However, those that are remind us that these are real children that will suffer long-lasting effects from this treatment. All for their parents to cash in on them.
After all, there is a reason why many social media sites require users to be at least 13 years old.
Featured Image Credit: iStock
Second year student journalist studying Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Journalism Studies.
Writer for Brig and Discovery Music, Chief Sub Editor for Brig
