How Toddlers Are Taking Over Social Media
By: Jovanca Aurelia
Countless subcultures construct the vast, intricate, social media ecosystem. Since its origin, it is almost impossible to pinpoint a digital era devoid of a particular trend. Hopping onto these subcultures gives individuals an identity, and subsequently garners attention to create revenue. One such identity is that of family vloggers and lifestyle influencers: parents who paint the picture of the perfect family, complete with regular Disneyland trips every other Saturday. But the reality is that the real stars aren’t the parents, but their toddlers—their lives neatly packaged, and posted onto social media for mass consumption.
In 2024, lifestyle influencers and family vloggers are still major internet sensations. Parents hide behind their cameras to showcase both the highs and lows of their children to boost followings and fish for likes. This trend has led to concerns that children are being used as “assets”, where children as young as 4 are subjected to a constant stream of publicity out of their consent.
According to viewers, the evidence lies in the thousands of “saves” Wren’s posts receive. This suggests that predators might be using Wren’s posts, some of which viewers consider to be suggestive: Wren eating out of a hotdog, Wren eating a pickle, or drinking out of straws. These are the types of videos that gain the highest view counts. This controversy speaks for a much larger issue of parents profiting off their children in order to gain fame or money. Can toddlers–let alone children–consent to being part of a marketing strategy? There is a fine line between documenting cherished family moments and children being used as assets before they have the ability to consent to mass exposure. When a camera is always present, the pressure to perform for the sake of the next viral content slowly consumes their lives.
Recently, TikTok duo Jacquelyn and her preschool-aged daughter Wren Eleanor have drawn public attention for their seemingly “innocent” posts. With nearly 17 million followers, the content posted on @wren.eleanor is curated to be focused on her 4-year-old’s daily activities, such as clips highlighting her outfits and recording her trying new food. Although sharing such moments online isn’t inherently problematic, many viewers are increasingly worried that this content could be putting Wren’s safety at risk.
These children are the new face of the internet. They become famous for being their true selves, their childhoods woven into public performances for the public to watch over and over again. Whether the intention is to create wholesome family content or create a source of income, it is inevitable that we are stepping into an era where parents are willing to promote their children online for commercial gain.