Generation Influencer

"Generation Influencer" explores the growing concerns around child influencers and the lack of legal protections for them on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Family vlogging has become wildly popular, with parents sharing intimate glimpses of their children's lives. While these videos appeal to viewers and foster a sense of personal connection, they raise serious risks, particularly around child safety and exploitation. 

The article highlights the case of seven-year-old Irish influencer @keepupwithjacob, who has 2.4 million followers on TikTok. Though managed by his mother, the account features only Jacob, raising concerns from cybersecurity experts and child advocates. Innocent videos can be saved, shared, and potentially fall into dangerous hands, including those frequenting the dark web. Research from Anglia Ruskin University reveals that criminals now use AI to alter normal photos into abusive content, intensifying the threat. 

The article shows that a significant gap in legislation exists. While child actors and models receive protections around working conditions and earnings, child influencers often do not. As Dr. Francis Rees from Essex Law School points out, current laws, such as the EU’s Digital Services Act, protect child consumers but fail to address children featured in content creation.