Legislation aimed at ensuring child influencers are fairly compensated for their social media contributions has taken a significant turn. A bill originally intended to regulate payments for kids creating online content has pivoted to prohibit children under 14 from engaging in profitable social media activities altogether. The move comes as the use of children to promote products on social media has grown into a billion-dollar industry. However, existing laws protecting these young influencers are outdated, predating the rise of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Prompted by disturbing reports, including one from the New York Times, lawmakers delved into instances where adults monetized images and videos of their young children, often catering to older audiences. Rep. Zack Stephenson, DFL-Coon Rapids, who initially proposed the bill, swiftly amended it in response to these revelations. The revised legislation now prohibits children under 14 from participating in profit-driven social media content creation.
Minnesota’s existing child labor law, barring work for those under 14 with few exceptions, served as a foundation for this amendment. While teenagers between 14 and 17 can still create content for compensation, lawmakers are committed to curbing exploitation.
“This is a vile, unconscionable situation that has to stop,” said Stephenson, echoing the sentiments of his colleagues.
“I hope every parent out there is listening and taking action,” added Rep. Harry Niska.
Legislators emphasize the need to shield children from exploitation on social media, providing them with a semblance of a childhood before exposing them to the challenges of online platforms. While no such exploitation cases have been reported in Minnesota, lawmakers remain vigilant, with concerns stemming from an internal Meta study revealing daily inappropriate interactions on 500,000 children’s Instagram accounts.