U.S. IN PROTECTING CHILD INFLUENCERS' RIGHTS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

As Utah passes new legislation (H.B. 322 Child Actor Regulations) protecting child influencers, experts highlight Canada's lack of similar safeguards despite the growing "sharenting" phenomenon and monetization of children in social media content.

INDUSTRY TALK

KEY CONCERNS

Regulatory gaps include:

• No Canadian legislation extending to children in social media content

• Provincial labor laws assume employer is not the parent

• Unclear if current employment regulations apply to child influencers

• No requirements for financial trusts from content earnings

• No content removal rights for children once they reach adulthood

LIFE MILESTONES OPPORTUNITIES

Recent state measures include:

• Utah requiring 15% of earnings set aside in trust funds

• Content removal rights for adults featured as minors

• Illinois, California and Minnesota enacting earnings protections

• Legislation triggered by high-profile abuse cases

• Rules targeting creators making over $150,000 annually

BRAND PREFERENCES

Expert observations highlighted by:

• Family influencers earning up to $40,000 per sponsored post

• Sharp rise in "sharenting" during the pandemic years

• Growing backlash from former child influencers themselves

• Some prominent creators now refusing to show children online

• Concerns about performing happiness and loss of privacy

THE BOTTOM LINE

As more former child influencers speak out about exploitation and U.S. states implement protective legislation, Canadian policymakers face mounting pressure to address the regulatory vacuum—creating clearer frameworks that balance parental rights with children's privacy, financial interests, and future autonomy in the rapidly evolving creator economy.