Child "Influencers" (Exploitation)

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I commented on the ridiculous things on Facebook thread about this already but I am concerned about one account with a child under the age of 10 who is now offering a subscription package where the top tier has access to the child via social media and playing online games with her (games which include chatting). To me, if the subscription package was aimed at similar aged horsey kids then I'd expect the package to include something like a hat silk, a photo of a pony, maybe an online Q&A hosted by the parents at a push. She already has merch available. Offering online gameplay is strange to me. You can't control what strangers say in games, and the comments are live (whereas comments on FB are easily deleted and I wouldn't expect a kid to be the one reading the comments there in any event). And I don't agree with livestreaming kids either, which is another thing top tier subscribers get to watch.

I understand needing to raise funds to be able to do what you do, but I think the child's safety has to be a priority. And their comfort. It's like all the kids who are pranked by their parents for YouTube. It's not their choice, not in their control and they may not want their peers, teachers or anyone else to see that. Children are their own people, and I don't think anyone should post them online without their agreement, and they can't agree until they are old enough to understand what that means.

What a major safeguarding implication and basically the dream of anyone dodgy. Child is too old to be on social media as well.

Can you report to the social media companies at the very least

Parents should be safeguarding their children (and following social media guidelines) not throwing them out there for all and sundry to communicate with

If the child was at a school and they knew there'd be concerns logged. Shame social services can't get involved

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

What a major safeguarding implication and basically the dream of anyone dodgy. Child is too old to be on social media as well.

Can you report to the social media companies at the very least

Parents should be safeguarding their children (and following social media guidelines) not throwing them out there for all and sundry to communicate with

If the child was at a school and they knew there'd be concerns logged. Shame social services can't get involved

I have tried flagging content via YouTube re: the membership thing and some of the content via Instagram

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I can imagine. I'm not thinking to raise it with parents myself, more like a collective thing; I imagine (hope!) there are already people working on it.

I like the MP idea @SantaVera

For those more knowledgeable would setting up a petition work?

I watched that documentary with Matt and Emma Willis and the school who banned phones (it was shocking how long some of the kids used their phones for each day and what they were accessing)

I think there needs to be ID to be able to create a social media account, when signing up to the doctor's online services I had to take a photo of my id and a video of my face. I know those who wanted to would still find a work around but it should at least wheedle out a few

Bet there's absolutely no safeguarding going on around these children being used, and how the parents can want their children to be viewed by all and sundry who knows why they'd even want that (well I do, the ££££s it generates bet less would do it if a ban was put on monetising children online until they are old enough to understand the implications)

 

[Haniki]

It was a few years ago now as as mentioned this woman and children have vanished behind some sort of pay wall or completely. She did try and back track and say the cherubs wouldn't be involved etc but on first reading of her 'special offer' it certainly didn't read that way.

Was that ‘Kizzy and Ettie’s pony adventures’ or something like that, on Facebook?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

For those more knowledgeable would setting up a petition work?

I watched that documentary with Matt and Emma Willis and the school who banned phones (it was shocking how long some of the kids used their phones for each day and what they were accessing)

I think there needs to be ID to be able to create a social media account, when signing up to the doctor's online services I had to take a photo of my id and a video of my face. I know those who wanted to would still find a work around but it should at least wheedle out a few

Bet there's absolutely no safeguarding going on around these children being used, and how the parents can want their children to be viewed by all and sundry who knows why they'd even want that (well I do, the ££££s it generates bet less would do it if a ban was put on monetising children online until they are old enough to understand the implications)

One of the queries/points I was trying to raise with NSPCC is when you look up child safety online, it tends towards guidance for parents who presumably are looking to monitor their children's online safety. But there doesn't seem to be anything for people concerned about children being unsafe online because of their parents.

I have often thought of writing to events hosting these meet and greets to say 'have you really, actually, properly thought about this?' but then I'm just one person and I imagine they are hugely popular. Similarly with approaching brands 'are you really okay being associated with an account that posts such private medical information about a child who cannot consent?' etc.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

She's been doing it for many years though, at least 3 that I'm aware of but possibly longer.

The whole child influencer thing worries me a lot, one in particular who has vanished or gone behind a pay wall now that offered her little cherubs and their ponies up for 'a picnic in the fairy glade' or similar for a few hundred quid springs to mind.

I know which one you mean - I said something to her once about one of the ponies and she blocked me!

 

[maya2008]

I don’t think you can ban it completely, because there are also child actors/models etc. But whatever laws apply to those situations should absolutely apply here also.

And yes, offering access to your child for strangers is wrong on a million levels.

 

[Cobxfan55]

Was that ‘Kizzy and Ettie’s pony adventures’ or something like that, on Facebook?

I just searched who you said Kizzy is 6 and E is 8 I think their Mother posted the stuff on their instagram page currently they have 96.8k followers so far I vaguely remember following them but I don't anymore

 

[daffy44]

I remember reading an article a while ago about child "influencers" it was primarily about dance/gym children in America, and it was horrifying. When the journalists spoke to the parents about who was viewing their children online, the parents basically didnt care, little preteen girls in leotards etc and the parents saw nothing wrong with putting these little girls online all the time. The journalist had also interviewed some of the people who got off on seeing these very young girls, and told the parents, and still the parents didnt see a problem.

Its a disaster waiting to happen, these poor, poor children, social media is so under regulated at the moment, and when the parents themselves are offering their children up, there is absolutely no one protecting the children.

 

[mariew]

I keep on seeing jumping kids that are jumping higher and higher but actually they don't really have the muscle control to prevent the weight of their head flinging them around like a ragdoll, but everyone raves about how amazing the little cherub is.

Any criticism though and the parent and their fanclub goes off on one. It will make no other difference than being blocked if you anyone tries to tell parents that maybe their exposing their child too much.

However maybe it's just easier and more accessible now. I am not sure how different it is to the Jackson 5s or those twins from America who are now eating disorder car crashes.

 

[Nicnac]

The CEOP exists to protect children from online abuse, usually sexual. I wonder whether they'd be able to give you a steer of where to take this? Momfluencers are a concern as often they don't consider how the photos could be seen/used by pedophiles.

Michael Keller investigated this and the transcript makes interesting (terrifying) reading https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/t...sharing-their-childrens-lives-on-social-media

 

[DressageCob]

The difference between the child influencer and the child actor is that child actors have safeguarding in place. it's not perfect, by any means; we have all seen how many child stars have problems as adults. But they have agents, unions, restrictions on working hours, restrictions on content. the producers need a licence to work with children. There's nothing there to protect kids from user generated content. Their parents can post whatever they like. The only time anyone will effectively intervene is when it actually strays into something illegal.

There's a mum and kid account which has gained attention for clearly marketing towards wronguns. It's a little girl aged under 6 who is filmed eating things, making comments which adults can read into, posing...it's incredibly uncomfortable. When you look on her list of followers they are disproportionately adult men. It has been reported to authorities in the relevant country and nothing has been done, nor will be done. I fear for that little girl's future.

 

[Fastasflames]

The difference between the child influencer and the child actor is that child actors have safeguarding in place. it's not perfect, by any means; we have all seen how many child stars have problems as adults. But they have agents, unions, restrictions on working hours, restrictions on content. the producers need a licence to work with children. There's nothing there to protect kids from user generated content. Their parents can post whatever they like. The only time anyone will effectively intervene is when it actually strays into something illegal.

There's a mum and kid account which has gained attention for clearly marketing towards wronguns. It's a little girl aged under 6 who is filmed eating things, making comments which adults can read into, posing...it's incredibly uncomfortable. When you look on her list of followers they are disproportionately adult men. It has been reported to authorities in the relevant country and nothing has been done, nor will be done. I fear for that little girl's future.

 

[Fastasflames]

one of the most popular ones out there has just changed the name of their you tube channel and looks to have engaged a management company, which hopefully is a good thing? However they already have a link to click to pay for a personalised video from the 'influencer' for birthdays etc....

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

The CEOP exists to protect children from online abuse, usually sexual. I wonder whether they'd be able to give you a steer of where to take this? Momfluencers are a concern as often they don't consider how the photos could be seen/used by pedophiles.

Michael Keller investigated this and the transcript makes interesting (terrifying) reading https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/t...sharing-their-childrens-lives-on-social-media

Ooh thank you the CEOP thing looks potentially useful, I will take a look tomorrow.

 

[Cobxfan55]

one of the most popular ones out there has just changed the name of their you tube channel and looks to have engaged a management company, which hopefully is a good thing? However they already have a link to click to pay for a personalised video from the 'influencer' for birthdays etc....

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

one of the most popular ones out there has just changed the name of their you tube channel and looks to have engaged a management company, which hopefully is a good thing? However they already have a link to click to pay for a personalised video from the 'influencer' for birthdays etc....

Can you please share a link just so I can see what you mean

I respectfully suggest not doing this.

 

[JFTDWS]

Please don't share links or name individuals on this thread. It could get the thread pulled.

 

[Cobxfan55]

post has been removed sorry for asking I did not know that

 

[quinnd]

She Was a Child Instagram Influencer. Her Fans Were Grown Men.

“Jacky Dejo” was introduced to social media by her parents as a snowboarding prodigy. Now 18, she has seen the dark side of the internet — and turned a profit from it.

www.nytimes.com

If you can't access that article, it's an indepth feature re a skiing prodigy whose parents put her on facebook at age 6, and instagram at age 8. When she turned 18, she immediately joined only fans and playboy.com. She's an adult who is making her own decisions now but surely no mother would want that for their daughter at such a young age...

 

[equinerebel]

Please don't share links or name individuals on this thread. It could get the thread pulled.

Initials are generally considered fine, so let's try and use those instead.

HW is one of the most well known but probably least problematic (as far as any child influencer can be considered problematic). I'm more familiar with "family vlogging" channels than I am equestrian child vloggers. That is an absolute cesspit.

I really do think the UK needs to bring in legislation to protect these children.

 

[ester]

There’s a number of screenshots from the nyp article in this thread

https://twitter.com/x/status/1876006425148940387

 

[I'm Dun]

I wonder if one of my lecturers might be interested in looking at this. The problem with research is it takes forever to get approval and then get started, but it does sort of fit with her wider work. I'll ask some questions. It may be that research is already ongoing anyway.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

There’s a number of screenshots from the nyp article in this thread

https://twitter.com/x/status/1876006425148940387

I don't think I can read the thread without a Twitter account or the app but I was able to watch the video and certainly getting the gist of the red flags.

 

[equinerebel]

Not equestrian, but there's a well known and deeply problematic family vlogging channel that was featured in a Stacey Dooley documentary a few years ago. The dad was specifically asked about predators watching his children, his response was "is that really so bad?"

Nothing was done, and they still upload regularly to YouTube and TikTok.

 

[geeoharee]

"Did you find it unsettling and can't place why?" No, I know exactly why. I feel like I should be on a list for clicking on that.

 

[Lady Jane]

Was that ‘Kizzy and Ettie’s pony adventures’ or something like that, on Facebook?

I really enjoyed the very early videos (Whoosh Cinders) but started to find it a bit odd as time went on and she revealed more personal info. And going behind a paywall smacks of making money out of them

 

[Miss_Millie]

This thread has got me thinking of child stars who went off the deep end due to being so horribly exploited, the likes of Amanda Bynes who is now unrecognisable. Presumably she would have had more protection from predation than the average 'child influencer'...it is all deeply disturbing.

 

[Burnerbee]

Anyone can report a concern about a child or adult via their county’s social services website. This is a link to the gov.uk information on how to report child abuse (but please use it wisely)

Report a serious child safeguarding incident

How local authorities should notify incidents to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.

www.gov.uk

 

[ecb89]

I believe it was Champion (could be completely wrong) who said they would no long use child influencers on social media.