Exploring the Ethical Concerns Surrounding “Child influencers” on social media

Exploring the Ethical Concerns Surrounding "Child Influencers" on Social Media Student's Name Institutional Affiliation Course Number and Name Instructor's Name Assignment Due Date Exploring the Ethical Concerns Surrounding "Child Influencers" on Social Media The emergence of social media has transformed the traditional notions of celebrity and labor, with young children increasingly becoming prominent figures on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. These are known as the "kidfluencers," kids with millions of fans and followers, and they advertise products for various firms globally. Even though the financial and career prospects are enviable, it is unethical, developmentally questionable, and possibly unlawful to let children perform as social media personalities. This essay discusses why children should not be allowed to be social media influencers because of the dangers of exploitation, harm physically and emotionally, materialism, and violation of their privacy and consent. Commercial Exploitation and Child Labor Concerns Social media commercialization of childhood includes children engaging in exploitative labor that is not well protected by law. Traditional child actors are protected by stringent labor laws regulating working hours, compensation, and education (Jayroe, 2024). But child influencers are often in a different space, unhinged from such guidelines, thus fostering a grey area where children can be exploited. Faced with such expectations, many children are forced to generate content incessantly, losing the divide between work and playtime (Lynn, 2023). There is a requirement for modern rules to safeguard child influencers since they may be sold into commodities without proper legislation, and their worth is measured in profits (Harrod, 2023). The absence of protection places undue strain on their developmental needs, undermining their overall well-being. Mental and Physical Health Concerns Being a child influencer comes with psychological and physical pressures likely to compromise a child's growth process. The need to sustain an image involves children embracing production schedules, managing audience expectations, and coping with audiences' hostility. These pressures build stress, anxiety, and burnout (Lachane, 2024). Children in the influencer positions develop severe psychological problems, among which are those associated with self-identity. In addition, the physical strain of many hours of filming, editing, and interacting with the audience may interfere with basic needs for learning, play, and sleep (Lynn, 2023). Therefore, childhood should be a time for exploration and growth, not burdened by public performance and brand management responsibilities. Influence on Consumer Behavior and Materialism Kidfluencers often serve as brand marketing tools, promoting products and services to their impressionable audiences. Such a commercial relationship creates selfish perceptions that orient influencers and fans. Influencing positively relates t...