By: Sam Gruetter

Sports Editor

As social media develops and continues to gain popularity, a new industry is emerging: family channels. Fordham University defines family channels as channels that “film vlogs of their daily lives and compile those clips into videos, which they upload to YouTube.” Their “content can range anywhere from the daily lives… of the parents… [to] milestone events in a child’s life.” While these channels may seem like harmless content creation, I believe that parents should not post images and videos of their children on social media platforms, especially when they have a large following and are gaining a profit from posts. 

When compared to other forms of social media, family content is among the most popular and therefore profitable. This popularity is because the content is appropriate for all ages, leading producers to gain a larger following. A large following then allows the channels to profit off of making content of their children through sponsorships and endorsements from companies. In the article Family Channels: Violators of Child Privacy, by Fordham University the author states “many of these parents admit that they would not have what they have today had they not included their children in their social media endeavors.” Oftentimes the children are not reaping the benefits of their exploitation. CNN writer Samantha Murphy Kelly describes the monetization of children on family channels saying, “Although children are predominantly featured in these monetized videos, parents have had no legal obligation to give them any portion of the earnings.”

Another moral issue that accompanies the business of family channels is the fact that many of the children being shown and profited from are just that, children. Many kids are unaware of the ramifications that posting about their daily life has and don’t understand the complexities of social media, especially due to the embarassing and, at times, intimate nature of the content. The events featured on channels include showcasing a child’s first steps, unboxing toys or gifts, and, in more severe cases, personal family issues such as financial struggles. 

In 2022, one of the most popular family channels, 8 Passengers, came under heat when mother Ruby Franke was arrested for six counts of child abuse. Many red flags indicating potential abusive behavior became apparent in the family’s  vlogs with many fans voicing concerns for the children’s safety, however, no action was taken until Frankes arrest on Aug. 30, 2022. This case only highlights the toxic and harmful culture of family channels and why they should not exist.