Exploiting Family for Fame: The Dangers for Child Influencers
“Familial pimping” refers to an exploitative situation where a family member, often a parent or guardian, exploits another family member, typically a child or minor, for financial gain through activities related to prostitution, pornography, or other forms of sexual exploitation. While it used to be cut and dry, that someone could go to jail for forcing their child into commercial sex or using them for porn, it has become more muddied as we enter the world of child influencers.
The New York Times recently released a study on teenage and preteen Instagram influencers. Seeking to make money for their children or set up their careers, and well, make money for themselves, mothers post images of them on Instagram. The accounts draw men sexually attracted to children, and they sometimes pay to see more. Instagram does not allow children under 13 to have accounts, but parents are allowed to run them on behalf of their children who aspire to be social media influencers. Some of these accounts feature teens and tweens in bathing suits, sucking on lollipops, and in suggestive poses. While none of this is illegal, it inevitably attracts a male adult audience.
Some offer subscriptions, the sale of photos, exclusive chat sessions, and even the sale of girls’ worn leotards to mostly unknown male followers. What may have begun as a parent’s effort to help their child become a model one day, or get free name-brand clothes, exposes them to adult men, who openly admit on other platforms to being sexually attracted to children.
One girl’s account said: “Message me anytime. You will have more opportunities for buying and receiving super exclusive content😘,” for a $25 subscription to a minor’s account. For $100 a month, subscribers can get “live interactive video chats,” unlimited direct messages, and a mention on the girl’s Instagram story.
One woman interviewed by The New York Times, Kaelyn, whose daughter is now 17, said she worried that a childhood spent sporting bikinis online for adult men had scarred her. “She’s written herself off and decided that the only way she’s going to have a future is to make a mint on OnlyFans,” she said, referring to a website that allows users to sell adult content to subscribers. “She has way more than that to offer.”
The rise of child influencers might seem like a relatively new phenomenon in the age of social media, but the concept of children being thrust into the public eye for fame and fortune, leading to tragedy has deeper roots in history. One haunting example is the case of JonBenét Ramsey.
JonBenét Ramsey was a six-year-old American child beauty queen who was brutally murdered in her family’s home in Boulder, Colorado, in 1996. Her case remains unsolved to this day, but the media frenzy that followed her death brought attention to the world of child beauty pageants and the sometimes unsettling ways in which young children are pushed into the spotlight. What was brought to light was how many adult male fans she had, including one man known as “Candy Cane Man” who had stolen a candy cane from their front yard and had a shrine for JonBenet in his house. The media coverage of JonBenét’s case highlighted the dark side of child fame and the potential dangers of thrusting children into the limelight. It raised questions about the motives of parents who put their children in such positions, the impact on the child’s development and well-being, and the broader societal fascination with youth and beauty.
In the United States, parents have substantial freedom in making decisions about their children, and these unsettling images of sexualized child influencers tend to fall into a legal gray area. To meet the federal definition of so-called child pornography, the law generally requires a “lascivious exhibition” of the anal or genital area, though courts have found the requirement can be met without nudity or sheer clothing. This was a major talking point when Balenciaga used children in a BDSM theme advertisement for purses a few years back. There have been some criminal prosecutions against parents accused in child sexual abuse cases as a result of online influencing, but authorities are overwhelmed and typically focus on the clearest-cut cases.
Nearly one in three preteens list influencing as a career goal. Health and technology experts have recently cautioned that social media presents a “profound risk of harm” for girls. Constant comparisons to their peers and face-altering filters are driving negative feelings of self-worth and promoting the objectification of their bodies.
We must instill in young children the understanding that they are not commodities. Teaching them about self-esteem, the complexities of the internet, and the importance of safety forms the foundation of their development.
And we as adults, need to make responsible choices to protect our children, rather than viewing them as our income. The modern era presents lucrative opportunities to become internet influencers, but we must consider the well-being and safety of children before embarking on paths that could compromise their innocence and security. While the allure of fame and fortune that you did not have and want for your child might be enticing, consider the long-term effects on a child’s mental health, well-being, and sense of self-worth.
The world of child influencers on platforms like Instagram and YouTube may seem like a new frontier, but the cautionary tale of JonBenét Ramsey reminds us that the pressures and dangers of child fame have been present for much longer. I strongly discourage this behavior among parents and my peers, and I urge you to do the same.
Instead, let us encourage activities for our children that nurture their talents, hobbies, and interpersonal skills, creating a generation that values authenticity, genuine connections, and personal growth over online popularity. By safeguarding childhood and guiding them towards healthy pursuits, we empower them to become resilient, confident individuals equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital age, and most importantly, keep them safe.
