The Dark Side of Family Influencing on Social Media
· culture
The Unseen Consequences of Family Influencing
As we scroll through our social media feeds, we’re often drawn into the curated highlight reels of family vlogs and mom influencers. Perfectly posed breakfast tables, immaculately decorated playrooms, and adorable children living lives of perpetual joy create a false narrative. But behind the scenes, a more nuanced reality is at play.
Kristine and Matt, parents of five young children and creators of the Family Fun Pack YouTube channel, have built a lucrative brand with over 316 million views on their “24 Hours with 5 Kids on a Rainy Day” vlog. They earn an estimated $200,000 per month from AdSense revenue-sharing and brand sponsorship deals. However, at what cost?
Kristine told journalist Fortesa Latifi, “I didn’t understand privacy settings, and everything just spiraled from there.” This highlights the disturbing ease with which our online personas can be created and monetized. The Family Fun Pack’s rise to fame is a textbook case of how social media platforms enable the commodification of childhood.
This trend isn’t limited to Kristine and Matt; it’s about family influencing, where parents invite followers into their lives with constant streams of content. Latifi’s book, Like, Follow, Subscribe, paints a picture of a world where personal life and business have become increasingly blurred.
The Dark Side of Family Influencing
As Latifi notes, family vlogs often feature children in vulnerable or embarrassing situations – potty training videos complete with affiliate links for organic cotton underwear. This isn’t just about attention-grabbing; it’s also about clicks and views. Financial incentives come into play when brands want to feature kids in social-media ads and sponsored content because it’s seen as more profitable.
The Pew Research Center analysis of YouTube videos uploaded by high-subscriber channels in 2019 found that videos featuring children under the age of 13 averaged three times as many views as those without kids. Brands prioritize featuring kids because it grabs attention – and therefore, generates revenue.
However, there’s a darker side to this trend. The most extreme cases of “sharenting” have enabled and concealed serious harm. Ruby Franke, an early and successful family vlogger, was convicted of child abuse. These stories serve as stark reminders that the consequences of our online actions can be devastating.
The Viewers’ Dilemma
As viewers, we’re faced with a choice: continue to scroll through our feeds, vicariously living through seemingly perfect lives, or take a step back and consider the implications of our online consumption. Latifi’s book raises urgent questions about what we’re comfortable watching on our screens.
We’re not just passive viewers; we’re complicit in this phenomenon. By actively choosing to watch, we contribute to a culture that prioritizes clicks over children’s welfare. This is a disturbing reality that demands attention and reflection.
The Unintended Consequences of Social Media
The rise of family influencing is one symptom of a broader issue: the unintended consequences of social media on our lives and relationships. We’ve become accustomed to curating our online personas, but at what cost? Our children are being raised in a world where their every move is documented and monetized.
As we consider this trend, we must also think about the future of childhood itself. Will our children grow up with an understanding that their lives are not private property to be exploited for clicks and views?
The Need for Regulation
Tech companies continue to resist regulations, prioritizing profits over people. It’s time for us as viewers – and as a society – to take responsibility for the content we consume.
By actively choosing not to watch, boycotting brand deals that feature children in vulnerable situations, and supporting regulation of the industry, we can begin to slow down this trend. We owe it to our children, and ourselves, to rethink the way we engage with social media.
The Family Fun Pack may have “spiraled from there,” but it’s up to us to take control of our own online narratives – before they spiral out of control.
Reader Views
- PLProf. Lana D. · social historian
Family influencing on social media often masquerades as innocuous entertainment, but its effects can be insidious. By monetizing their children's lives, parents create a perverse incentive for kids to perform and conform to societal expectations of cuteness and innocence. What's often overlooked is the psychological toll on these children, who may struggle with authenticity in an environment where every moment is scripted or staged for profit. This raises important questions about the long-term impact on their self-concept and emotional well-being.
- DCDrew C. · cultural critic
The Family Fun Pack's viral fame is a symptom of a broader societal issue: our relentless pursuit of online validation. By monetizing their children's innocence, Kristine and Matt have inadvertently commodified vulnerability. We must consider the long-term effects on these kids as they navigate adulthood with a permanently curated digital footprint. Moreover, the article glosses over the darker side of parental complicity – some parents are pressured by social media platforms to create content that exploits their children for financial gain, rather than making an informed choice.
- TSThe Society Desk · editorial
Family influencing on social media raises questions about the exploitation of childhood innocence for financial gain. While Kristine and Matt's story highlights the darker side of this trend, it's essential to consider the broader implications of normalizing the commercialization of personal life. The ease with which online personas are created and monetized belies a more insidious reality: our social media platforms are designed to encourage addictive behaviors, which can lead to exploitation by both brands and individuals seeking influence. As we continue this conversation, let's not forget the children themselves – their digital footprints will outlast their childhoods.