Children who are used as influencers need better protection. The same applies to children who are part of a so-called vlog family. The cabinet is adjusting the rules regarding child labor so that they better take into account developments online.
“Online videos and vlogs in which money is earned by or with children have become a new form of child labor,” writes the Ministry of Social Affairs. Many parents enjoy sharing images of their children on social media. If this generates money or if children are frequently in the picture, parents will soon have to report this to the Labor Inspectorate, so that it can better monitor what is happening.
In addition to privacy risks, experts say there are also risks to children’s mental health. The images online can be misused. Children appearing in videos of vlog families can be sexualized, an episode of the YouTube program ANGRY revealed in April. Parents also burden their children if they are made jointly responsible for the household income.
Anyone who makes commercial films with children for online use is already required to apply for an exemption. But because it is not always clear what is commercial and what is not, the Dutch Labor Inspectorate finds this rule difficult to enforce. The adjustment of the rules should remedy this.
The cabinet is also working on tightening the fine policy. Vlog families sometimes make large profits with their company, which means that a higher fine is sometimes better in proportion to the income.
“I understand that people enjoy getting a glimpse into the lives of others via social media,” says State Secretary Jurgen Nobel (Social Affairs). “But that should not be at the expense of the well-being of children.”