CHILD INFLUENCERS IN UK NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM EXPLOITATION, MPS SAY

Tue 10 May 2022:

Concerns that child influencers may be overworked to maximize income have prompted MPs to call for government regulation of the influencer market.

Ministers have also been instructed to strengthen advertising regulations to require influencers to be transparent when promoting items, in order for children to develop’media literacy’ and prevent harmful body image ideas from developing.

Child labor regulations should be updated to reflect the growth of child influencers, according to a report by the Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) Committee.

There are a number of young social media influencers, and while the internet has provided them with a lot of fame and money, there are few regulations protecting them from exploitation. As a result, they are exposed to a significant level of risk in terms of payment or, in some circumstances, parental pressure to continue producing content.

Julian Knight, the Conservative chair of the House of Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, said that the growing number of influencers has made the situation even worse.

“The rise of influencer culture online has brought significant new opportunities for those working in the creative industries and a boost to the UK economy,” he said according to The Guardian.

“However, as is so often the case where social media is involved, if you dig below the shiny surface of what you see on screen you will discover an altogether murkier world where both the influencers and their followers are at risk of exploitation and harm online,” he added.

The report from the committee explained that the ‘kidfluencers’ need to be included in the UK child labour and performance regulations to make sure that they are not forced into the sector.

“We are deeply concerned that a lack of action in the booming influencer market will lead to even more children in the industry being exploited,” said the report submitted by the report.

Last year, up to half of all children claimed they watched vlogger or YouTube influencer content, according to Ofcom, and ‘kidfluencers’ can earn up to £100,000 per month.

Tiana Wilson, 14, from Nottingham, has 11.4 million Youtube subscribers, and football specialist Lorenzo Greer, 13, has 1.7 million followers. According to The Times, there is no evidence that these youngsters have been exploited.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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