WSJ Tech News Briefing: Utah Takes Action to Protect Child Internet Stars

Release Date: March 31, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the WSJ Tech News Briefing, hosted by Victoria Craig, the focus shifts to the burgeoning and often controversial world of child influencers on social media. Titled "Utah Takes Action to Protect Child Internet Stars," the episode delves into the legislative measures Utah has implemented to safeguard child stars from exploitation. The discussion is anchored by insights from Wall Street Journal reporter Zousia Ellenson, who has extensively covered the Ruby Franke scandal—a case that has significantly influenced the new laws.

Overview of Utah's New Legislation

Victoria Craig introduces the topic by highlighting the dual nature of social media: its allure as a platform for creative expression and its hidden perils, particularly the exploitation of child influencers. Utah has emerged as the fourth state to enact legislation aimed at regulating how parents manage and monetize their children's online presence.

Key Provisions of the Utah Law:

• Financial Safeguards: Parents are mandated to set aside funds for their children, ensuring financial support when they reach 18 years of age.
• Content Control: Once children turn 18, they are granted the right to remove any embarrassing or harmful videos from their online profiles.

Victoria Craig (00:18): “...Utah has become the fourth state to pass legislation that puts guardrails around parents who broadcast their families' lives on Instagram and YouTube and earn mega bucks for it.”

Catalyst for the Legislation: The Ruby Franke Scandal

Zousia Ellenson explains that Utah's aggressive move towards regulating child influencers was primarily sparked by the Ruby Franke case. Ruby Franke, a prominent mom influencer from Utah, ran a highly successful YouTube channel, 8Passengers, which amassed over 2.5 million subscribers and more than a billion views by 2020.

Timeline of Events:

1. Rise to Fame: Ruby Franke showcased her large Mormon family’s daily life, garnering substantial income through brand partnerships and ad revenue.
2. Public Scrutiny: In 2020, concerns arose when one of their sons revealed he was punished by being made to sleep on a beanbag chair for seven months, sparking public outrage.
3. Fall from Grace: Investigations uncovered severe child abuse by Ruby and her business partner, leading to their conviction and sentencing in prison.

Zousia Ellenson (03:11): “Ruby Franke was one of these mom influencers from Utah, a Mormon family. They had six kids... But things really fell apart in 2020 when one of their sons mentioned casually on the video that he'd been sleeping on a beanbag chair in the basement for punishment for being defiant for seven whole months.”

This case highlighted the lack of oversight in family vlogging and the potential for exploitation, prompting legislative action to protect child influencers.

Implications for Content Creators and Families

The new law in Utah not only provides protections for children but also imposes responsibilities on parents and content creators. Zousia Ellenson discusses how the legislation has been received by the influencer community.

Feedback from Content Creators: Contrary to expectations, many content creators were supportive of the new laws. The severity of the Ruby Franke scandal made creators more amenable to regulations that ensure ethical treatment of child influencers.

Zousia Ellenson (09:00): “Because of the gravity of the Ruby Frankie scandal, the content creators did not say no. They said, yes, let's go along with this bill.”

Comparative State Perspectives: While Utah is the first conservative (red) state to implement such laws, other states like Illinois and California have also passed similar regulations, albeit with varying scopes and enforcement mechanisms.

Challenges in Enforcement

A critical aspect of the legislation is its enforcement. The law empowers children once they reach adulthood to take legal action, but proactive enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.

Enforcement Mechanisms:

• Post-18 Actions: Children can petition the court to access reserved funds or remove content once they are legally adults.
• Lack of Active Oversight: There are no dedicated authorities monitoring compliance, placing the onus on the children themselves to initiate legal proceedings.

Victoria Craig (09:57): “What parents have to do... set aside money so that their kids... eventually get paid for this work that they're doing. But what does the enforcement mechanism look like for this?”

Zousia Ellenson (10:25): “There's no social influencer police out there enforcing this law at all. It's all on the kids. I'm very curious about that because... if people aren't really enforcing the law, will people follow it?”

This loophole raises concerns about the law’s effectiveness, relying heavily on victims to come forward rather than having systemic checks in place.

Cultural Context: Utah's Rise as a Hub for Family Influencers

Zousia Ellenson provides context on why Utah, particularly with its strong Mormon community, became a hotspot for family vlogging.

Cultural Factors:

• Value on Family Life: Utah’s cultural emphasis on family and community dovetails with the family influencer model.
• Economic Incentives: The ability to monetize family life through platforms like YouTube and Instagram offers a viable income stream, aligning with the community’s values of home-based entrepreneurship.

Zousia Ellenson (07:32): “Utah is known for its family life. There's always been an encouragement in the Mormon community for moms to make a living from the home... showing videos, taking pictures of their family... fit with the culture.”

The popularity of Utah-based influencers like Ballerina Farms and reality shows like "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" further cemented the state’s role in the influencer economy.

Reception and Future Outlook

The legislation has garnered mixed reactions, particularly regarding its enforceability and the potential impact on the influencer economy in Utah.

Stakeholder Perspectives:

• Support from Influencers: Many creators view the laws as necessary safeguards, acknowledging the darker side of family vlogging highlighted by the Franke case.
• Opposition from Social Media Giants: While Utah has moved forward, other states like Illinois and California faced opposition from social media companies, particularly over provisions allowing content removal.

Zousia Ellenson (09:00): “...some influencers said they were going to leave the state... We've had four states now that have passed these bills. Three of them Democratic states, one Utah.”

Looking Ahead: With several states considering similar legislation, Utah’s proactive stance could influence national policies aimed at protecting digital child influencers. However, the success of these laws will largely depend on establishing effective enforcement mechanisms and balancing regulation with the creative freedoms of content creators.

Conclusion

The WSJ Tech News Briefing episode on Utah’s legislative actions against the exploitation of child internet stars underscores a pivotal moment in the regulation of digital family content. Driven by the tragic Ruby Franke scandal, Utah’s laws aim to provide financial security and autonomy to child influencers, setting a precedent for other states. However, challenges in enforcement and the cultural entrenchment of family vlogging present significant hurdles. As social media continues to evolve, the balance between creative expression and ethical responsibility remains a critical conversation shaping the future of digital influencer landscapes.

Notable Quotes

• Victoria Craig (00:18): “...Utah has become the fourth state to pass legislation that puts guardrails around parents who broadcast their families lives on Instagram and YouTube and earn mega bucks for it.”

• Zousia Ellenson (01:19): “These are kids who are appearing in influencer videos on YouTube and Instagram and they're extending protections that have normally been extended to child actors...”

• Sheri Franke (02:25): “...most child influencers would probably tell you they have full control over what is posted, but the reality is that their parents bribe and shame them into posting their most vulnerable moments.”

• Zousia Ellenson (03:11): “Ruby Franke was one of these mom influencers from Utah... but things really fell apart in 2020 when one of their sons mentioned casually on the video that he'd been sleeping on a beanbag chair...”

• Victoria Craig (09:57): “What parents have to do... set aside money so that their kids... eventually get paid for this work that they're doing. But what does the enforcement mechanism look like for this?”

• Zousia Ellenson (10:25): “If people aren't really enforcing the law, will people follow it? That's a huge question.”

This summary was produced based on the transcript and podcast information provided for the episode "Utah Takes Action to Protect Child Internet Stars" from the WSJ Tech News Briefing. For more insights and updates, tune into the Wall Street Journal’s Tech News Briefing.