As the daughter of a social media influencer, Cami Barrett said she’s living a life within a digital footprint that she wishes never existed.
“Whatever my mother posted is still on social media,” he said. “Photos I wish had never seen the light of day, personal details about my health, even when I had my first menstrual cycle.”
Barrett was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday to advocate for senate bill 1247Which would require social media platforms to offer a process for adults to request the removal of content that impersonates minors and was created by a family member who received compensation for sharing the content online.
The law requires the parent or other relative to remove or edit the content within 10 business days of receiving the notification. Petitioners can take civil action against those who fail to comply and statutory damages will be set at $3,000 for each day the content remains online.
Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), who introduced the bill last month, said it would help protect the dignity and mental health of people whose childhoods were shared on social media. The measure was referred to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection Committee and is scheduled for a hearing on April 6.
“The evolution of these applications and technology is incredible,” Padilla said. “But it’s changing our social dynamics and it’s creating conditions that are very helpful to some people, but also require some guardrails.”
This bill would be based on Padilla’s previous legislation signed into law Two years ago it required content creators who featured minors in at least 30% of their content to place a portion of their earnings into a trust that the child could access once they turned 18.
Alyson Stoner, a former child actor who appeared in films such as “Step Up” and “Chipper by the Dozen,” spoke at the press conference and said she has experienced various pitfalls from putting her life on display. Her appearance was discussed by strangers, photographs of her face were plastered on pornography and a stalker appeared during one of her dance lessons.
While the risks to child actors are well known, Stoner worries that social media is now creating similar situations for children across the country.
Stoner, who now works as a mental health advocate, said, “The boundaries have blurred as personal domestic spaces become set aside for content and the child’s real life becomes entertainment.” “Family members or nearby adults, who are considered safe and trustworthy individuals, often do the filming.”
Barrett, who recalled becoming the target of predators and online bullying, said her mother was aware of the problems it created but continued to share her daughter’s life on social media.
“Everything that comes with the posting depends on my safety and well-being,” he said. “To this day, I still wonder what someone knows about me and whether they have a preconceived opinion about me based on my mother’s posts.”
Parents who create content focused on their children have come under greater scrutiny over the past few years after Ruby Franke — a prominent “mom blogger” who shared stories about her family in Utah on YouTube — pleaded guilty For child abuse in 2023. His daughter, Shari Franke, now advocates for greater child protection online.
Keeping children safe when on social media or using artificial intelligence is a hot topic in California and across the country. Governor Gavin Newsom has said California is paving the way for legislative restrictions on social media and artificial intelligence, but child safety advocates argue there is still a long way to go.
A landmark decision this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court could change how tech companies are held responsible for the harm their products cause children. Jurors on Wednesday found Instagram and YouTube responsible for designing platforms that are designed to attract young users.
