How to protect kids online from their own (influencer) parents

“Sharenting” has become a common term for parents who share their kids’ photos and videos online. But for parents who are also social media users who post online to generate income, also known as social media influencers, what are the laws and protections in place to protect their kids? And would social media companies support any limits?

According to KUOW news in Washington state last year, former Washington state Rep. Emily Wicks proposed a bill looking out for “the interests of minor children featured on for-profit family vlogs (video logs).”

“People are posting their photos of their kids online, which is great,” Wicks said. “But when you start to collect revenue from doing that, it does become an issue with how often you’re using your children, and what you’re kind of forcing them to do.”

The idea for the bill was brought to Wicks by a high school student named Chris McCarty, who took on the issue as a Girl Scout project. But the bill fizzled. The committee it went to didn’t have time to consider it thoroughly.

Wicks is no longer a representative — she decided against running for reelection — but the idea for her bill lives on. The high school student who first brought the idea to her attention is now working with Democratic Rep. Kristine Reeves of Federal Way to bring the bill back before the Legislature.

Wicks said this is not something social media companies would be happy to endorse.

To read the full article on KUOW please click here