Illinois has become the first state in the US to pass a law that guarantees child social media influencers a share of the profits generated from content posted online by their parents or guardians. The bill, which was initially filed in Illinois’ General Assembly in February, was passed on Friday.
“The rise of social media has given children new opportunities to earn a profit,” said Senator David Koehler, a Democrat who sponsored the bill. “Many parents have taken this opportunity to pocket the money, while making the children continue to work in these digital environments.”
The idea for the bill came from a 15-year-old content creator in Senator Koehler’s district. Sheyra Nallamothu, who proposed the bill, expressed her concerns about the exploitation that can happen within the world of “kidfluencing” and the lack of legislation to protect young influencers.
Video blogs, also known as vlogs, as well as other online content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, have gained significant audiences in the “sharenthood” industry. Parents share advice on various aspects of childcare in video clips, often featuring their own children.
Some of these “kidfluencing” videos can receive hundreds of thousands of views and generate tens of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue. However, there has been minimal regulation in this ever-developing online cottage industry. While many states already require parents to save earnings generated by their children in more traditional media avenues like film and television, the law in Illinois will be the first to directly impact young social media creators.
The new law, set to come into effect in July next year, will only apply to online content created in the state of Illinois. It specifies that children under 16 will be entitled to a share of revenue from content that generates at least 10 cents per view. Additionally, the children must feature in 30% of content published online over a 30-day period.
This law aims to protect child social media influencers from exploitation and ensures that they receive fair compensation for their work. By requiring parents or guardians to share the profits generated from their children’s online content, the law recognizes the value of their contributions to the digital world and ensures that they are not taken advantage of.
The passing of this law in Illinois sets a precedent for other states to follow and provides an important step towards regulating the “kidfluencing” industry. It acknowledges the influence and earning potential of young content creators and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding their rights and well-being.
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