From blockbuster films to your favorite YouTube channels, child stardom has become more and more normalized as a part of our entertainment mediums today. Yet, the conversation has also become increasingly loud about the controversy of child stardom and what society has allowed these children to endure in exchange for a paycheck. While our favorite names within the media such as Jennette McCurdy and Justin Bieber can attribute their wealth, success and opportunities to their start as child stars, the question remains: at what cost?
The reality of living life as a child star involves becoming immersed into a world where you are expected to act and perform as an adult. No matter how hard a child tries to function as an adult, there will always be things that they are vulnerable to — not because they are ignorant, but because they are children.
One major theme among children in the entertainment spotlight is their adult counterparts — whether that be their parents, bosses or colleagues — taking advantage of their vulnerabilities. In 2024, the documentary, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” was released to the public, shedding light on the exploitation of child stars. Drake Bell, most known for his roles on Nickelodeon television shows, revealed the sexual abuse he endured from his dialogue and acting coach, Brian Beck. This is merely a fraction of the sorts of offenses from Nickelodeon. On multiple occasions, Dan Schneider, the creator and producer of many of the network’s most popular shows, has been accused of being controlling and verbally abusive to his actors. His shows, which are intended to entertain children and young teenagers, often include various sexual innuendos and sly ways of sexualizing child actors and the characters they portray.
The parents of these children are also a major part of the issues within the industry today. Although abuse may not be the initial intention, when a family is monetizing their child it becomes a slippery slope that you often can’t recover from. Family vlogging channels have become increasingly popular over the years,as proven by the fact that engagement increases when children are featured in these vlogs. A Pew Research study revealed that YouTube videos containing children who are under the age of 13 receive more than three times as many views than videos that do not. That alone should send a signal to parents to keep their children off camera to protect them from the dangers of the internet, but when money gets involved, everything becomes more complicated.
A prime example of this abuse is reflected in the YouTube family vlogging channel, 8 Passengers. 8 Passengers was run by Ruby Franke, a mother of six children, and aimed to create a wholesome and family-friendly environment, sharing the experiences of motherhood within a big family. As the years went on, this channel gained approximately 2.5 million subscribers and over 1 billion views, becoming one of the most successful channels within the family vlogging realm. However, in 2023, Ruby Franke was arrested and charged with four counts of aggravated child abuse. The pressures of performing and making money lead people to do crazy things and when children are involved, they become easy targets due to their innocence.
While on the surface, child stardom is a dream come true — financial success, fame and ample opportunities — the consequences largely outweigh the rewards. The fact that society addresses the negatives of childhood fame only once these stars grow up and share their experiences is truly disgusting. Too much of the entertainment industry is immersed in lies and secrets in order to obtain maximum money and fame. Children in this industry are extremely vulnerable and are taken advantage of to become a part of these agendas that they do not even know about, which is cruel and inhumane. It is the responsibility of adult figures within the industry to advocate and speak up for children under the spotlight, but unfortunately that seems to be an unrealistic expectation. The fact that children who act like adults suffer the consequences of the adults who choose to act like children is why child stardom goes from being an extraordinary experience to a traumatic one.
Addison Newblatt, FCRH ’29, is a journalism major from Clarkston, Michigan.
