Can parents protect kidfluencers from predators online? | Four Corners

It’s the age of social media influencers, and kids are getting on board.
Encouraged by their parents, they’re filling our feeds, vying to be the next big thing. But can children ever really consent? And who’s watching?
Reporters Jessica Longbottom and Carla Hildebrandt meet the Australian parents who say they're setting up their kids' futures.
But there’s a darker side to this new and vastly unregulated world.
Four Corners investigates an online platform where potential predators can pay for photos of children, and looks at what tech companies - including owner of Instagram, Meta - what they’re doing to keep young people safe.
Welcome to ABC News In-depth, where you'll find our long-form journalism and other videos to help you understand what's going on in the world around you.
This episode was originally broadcast as ‘Kidfluencers’ on 20 May 2024 on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Read more about this story here: ab.co/3V8y8eT
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[@user-ly2lp2bc7e]

Parents, let kids be kids. There’s plenty of time for their careers. Money is not everything.

[@justmemimi7338]

I don’t understand why any adult would follow a child’s social media account. Nor do I understand why parents create these accounts for their children. There should be no social accounts for minors, or featuring minors. They are incapable of informed consent. Let children be children, and let them socialise with each other in the real world, not online.

[@naevachMaoMao]

Kids should stay off the internet. Internet is a dangerous place for kids.

[@melwink9985]

The people watching your kids aren't other kids. Take em outside.

[@Cole0x]

Doesn't matter how you put it, the Internet is no place for a kid, is because things are hidden doesn't mean there not there.

[@AdmiralTaco]

Parents need to stop using their kids for fame and need to let them be kids

[@OIllllO]

Every day I'm more thankful for not bring kids into this screwed up society.

[@cassieoz1702]

Appalling

[@sweetnaomi56]

Please ban titktok

[@lopsidedteacup2004]

These mothers are full of it.

[@TheOriginalDeckBoy]

OMFG this is outrageous.... time for massive policies to stop this rubbish...

[@toxicthoughts6923]

Kids shouldn’t even be posting on the internet or on the internet at all

[@jenniferlesueur1359]

These platforms are earning $$$$$$ they need to have more control what is being shown. We have created a monster 👿 Kids need to have a childhood. ❤️🇦🇺

[@saragog]

The laws need changing world wide. It's awful.

[@kristianhughes6574]

Disgusting

[@brianfarrugia2121]

This needs more media attention and more views

[@NinjaLama007]

Go outside and play.

[@behemothsbaby]

So wrong!

[@melanieallen3655]

Very scarey...

[@deevillarreal9475]

😢😮 kids and the internet should scare evert Damn body. 😢

[@user-ec9rz7xh7e]

so sad :(

[@ezamclaughlin988]

Oh brother!

[@behemothsbaby]

Capitalism has gone way too far…

[@MiloshVictory]

$$$