Protecting Young Influencers: California's Groundbreaking Legislation

In a landmark move, the state of California has enacted new laws to safeguard the financial well-being of child and teenage social media influencers. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, these measures aim to prevent the exploitation of minors who have found success in the digital content creation space.

Empowering the Next Generation of Online Stars

Ensuring Financial Security for Young Creators

The new California law mandates that parents and guardians of child social media influencers must set aside a portion of their earnings into trust accounts that the minors cannot access until they reach adulthood. Specifically, the legislation requires that 15% of a minor's earnings from online content be deposited into these protected accounts. This groundbreaking move is designed to prevent the financial exploitation of young talents and ensure they have a secure financial foundation as they transition into independent adulthood.The law also expands the state's existing Coogan Law, which previously protected child actors in Hollywood, to now include minors employed as online content creators. This expansion of the Coogan Law ensures that these young influencers are afforded the same level of financial safeguards as their counterparts in the traditional entertainment industry.

Addressing the Rise of "Sharenting"

The surge of "sharenting" – the practice of parents leveraging their children's lives and images to generate income through social media – has become a lucrative business model for many families. However, this trend has also raised concerns about the potential exploitation of minors. The new California law aims to address this issue by mandating the protection of a portion of the earnings generated by these young influencers.According to industry experts, a social media influencer with a following of over one million can earn up to $20,000 for a single sponsored post. Even those with smaller audiences, under 100,000 followers, can still command as much as $4,000 per sponsored content. This financial potential has led some parents to turn their children's lives into a full-time career, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the minors' well-being and financial security.

Aligning with Existing Protections for Child Performers

The California legislation follows a similar move by the state of Illinois, where lawmakers have amended the state's Child Labor law to include children featured on their parents' or guardians' social media accounts. This trend of expanding existing protections to encompass the digital realm reflects the growing recognition of the need to safeguard the rights and financial interests of young content creators.By aligning the new laws with the established Coogan Law, which has long protected child actors in Hollywood, California has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that the same level of financial safeguards is extended to the burgeoning world of social media influencers. This approach aims to create a more equitable and secure environment for minors who have found success in the digital content creation space.

Empowering Young Creators and Promoting Responsible Parenting

The new California legislation not only protects the financial interests of young influencers but also encourages responsible parenting practices. By mandating the allocation of a portion of earnings into trust accounts, the law incentivizes parents and guardians to approach their children's online presence with greater care and consideration.This shift towards a more regulated and accountable approach to "sharenting" can have far-reaching implications. It not only safeguards the financial futures of young influencers but also fosters a more ethical and sustainable ecosystem for digital content creation, where the well-being of minors is prioritized over short-term financial gains.As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the California law serves as a pioneering model for other states and jurisdictions to follow, ensuring that the rights and financial security of the next generation of online stars are protected.