Digital Child Labor Exploitation in Sharenting: Proposing Legislative Solutions for Enhanced Child Protection

This thesis explores the implications of sharenting -- the practice of sharing children's information on mass media--raises urgent concerns about child safety and potential human rights violations -- and the exploitation of children in digital spaces, focusing on the risks of privacy, safety and mental health pose by the rise of kidfluencers – children influencers under the age of 18 – and family vlog channels. Through a comprehensive literature review, the research examines children's online presence's emotional, legal, and societal impacts, drawing from case studies such as Sheri Franke, Wren Eleanor, Ryan Kaji, and JoJo Siwa. The analysis reveals a significant gap in existing legal frameworks, such as the Coogan Law (governs their earnings and creates a fiduciary relationship between the parent and the child) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which fail to address the unique challenges of child labor and digital content creation (SAG-AFTRRA, Coogan Law). Key concerns include the lack of informed consent, the commercialization of childhood, and the potential for sexualization and psychological harm. This thesis also discusses potential strategies to mitigate these risks, including educational programs for parents, the right to erasure for children, the expansion of child labor laws, and the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC). The findings highlight the need for stronger regulations to protect children's privacy, well-being, and mental health in the digital age, suggesting that legal reforms and international cooperation are essential for safeguarding children's rights online. Future research should explore the effectiveness of these measures and address the role social media platforms play in enforcing privacy protections.