New Illinois Law Requires Parents To Pay Child Influencers
Several influencer families create content for money on various social media platforms. In most cases, the children of those families don’t see a dime from the monetized content. A new law has gone into effect in Illinois to amend this situation. Child influencers in the state are set to receive their fair share of the earnings from content that they are included in. So, whether your kiddos are dancing up a storm, sharing their favorite toys, or dishing out adorable advice, they’ll get a well-deserved cut of the social media pie.
As we scroll through social media, one thing is clear: kids are everywhere. Instagram Reels and TikTok videos of babies laughing and kids playing fill our feeds. On YouTube, family channels that show kids’ daily lives are some of the most popular. Many families focus on their kids, making them “child influencers.” These kids appear on social media to make money. They might sing, dance, cook, do makeup, or act. Sometimes they work with big brands and earn money through sponsored posts.
For some families, the money from their kids is more than what the parents make, making the kids the main earners. This rise in child influencers has raised concerns about their safety online and the lack of laws protecting their earnings.
How is this law protecting child influencers?
The state passed a bill into law in August 2023, after Democratic Sen. David Koehler introduced it. It has been implemented since July 1, 2024, as a part of Illinois’ existing Child Labor Law, stating that children under 16 “perform[ing] in an artistic or creative service” are entitled to compensation from their parent or guardians’ digital content.
The state defines these posts as “content shared on an online platform in exchange for compensation.” The law states that if a child is present in at least 30 percent of a parent or guardian’s social media posts over the course of a month (30 days), they are entitled to a share of the revenue obtained. The funds will have to be put aside into a trust that the child can access upon turning 18. If a parent fails to comply, their children have the right to take action.
CNN reported that the law was brought to Sen. Koehler’s attention after Shreya Nallamothu, an Illinois-based teen, raised the issue. Nallamothu wrote a letter to the senator, telling the outlet about the permanence of online content: “The fact that these kids are either too young to grasp that or weren’t given the chance to grasp that is really sad.”
In today’s world, an influencer with more than 1 million followers may earn upwards of $20,000 for one sponsored post, while a person with under 100,000 followers on a social media platform may still earn as much as $4,000 for one sponsored post, according to ABC News.
Could this law go into effect in other states?
Some believe this law could be a step in the right direction, making way for other states to take the same action. Rolling Stone reported that other states like Maryland, California, and Wisconsin are considering similar action. Illinois is the first state to actually implement this kind of legislation so far.
