Former "Content Kid" Testifies on Bill to Protect Child Influencers in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD – A former child influencer delivered compelling testimony before the Maryland House of Delegates Economic Matters Committee today, urging lawmakers to pass HB 645. The proposed bill aims to provide financial protection for child influencers and grant them the right to request the removal of their content from online platforms upon reaching 18 years of age. Cam Barrett, who identified herself as a former "content kid," shared her personal story of growing up with a digital footprint she never asked for. She described how her mother monetized intimate details of her life, including her first menstrual cycle and adoption, leading to her platform's growth without her consent. Barrett recounted the profound impact this had on her mental health, stating, "I became vigilantly hyper-aware of my surroundings, developed an anxiety disorder I have to this day, and dropped out of high school." She further revealed a diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder and a debilitating anxiety disorder that prevents her from holding a job. "Maryland has the opportunity to protect child influencers who reside in this state from facing a monetized childhood only to be met with nothing in return at 18, along with having no say in a digital footprint they never asked for," Barrett implored the committee. Her testimony underscored the urgent need for legislative action to safeguard the well-being and future of children whose lives are extensively documented and monetized online by their parents.

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První generace dětských influencerů bojuje s traumaty i legislativou

„Jít na internet“ může být transcendentální zážitek. Umožňuje nám lépe se poznat či najít novou perspektivu. A pak jsou tu lidé, které jejich vlastní…