Your teenager might beg you to film his latest gaming rant because he’s “building his brand.” It’s tempting to humor him — you’ve seen toddlers unboxing toys earn fortunes — but once parents turn their kids into content, the line between sharing and exploiting gets fuzzy. Lawmakers have begun to recognize that kids deserve a cut of the profits and a say over how their images are used.

Utah is the latest state to join California, Illinois and Minnesota in requiring parents to compensate children who appear in monetized online content and to let them request removal of footage later in life. California expanded its Coogan law so that at least 15 percent of a child’s online earnings go into a trust. Illinois mandates payment when kids appear in a significant portion of a monetized video and locks those earnings away until they’re adults. Minnesota’s July 1 law takes the strictest stance: children under 14 get all of the proceeds and can force deletion of their likeness. These moves treat minors as workers rather than props and signal a cultural shift.

Why all the fuss? Because the influencer economy is lucrative. Industry estimates say a creator with more than a million followers can earn around $20,000 per sponsored post, while smaller accounts still make thousands. That means a video of a toddler’s tantrum can be a revenue stream. Former family vlogger Kevin Franke testified in support of Utah’s bill and admitted that vlogging his family was wrong. He reminded lawmakers that there is no such thing as an ethical family vlogger — a warning worth heeding.

Concerns about unregulated content aren’t confined to the United States. In Iraq, regulators recently announced that influencers must register and pay annual fees ranging from about $190 to $760. Officials say the rules will improve transparency and protect vulnerable groups, but journalists fear vague standards could be used to censor dissent. Although the Iraqi plan doesn’t focus on child earnings, it underscores growing anxiety about the impact of social media on societies and individuals.

Parents don’t have to wait for governments to act. Treat your teen’s influencer dreams like a part-time job. If they want to post monetized videos, draft a family agreement: decide what percentage goes to savings, spending and charity, and talk through taxes and unpredictable income. This turns “going viral” into a lesson in budgeting and responsibility.

Next, talk privacy. Once a tantrum or dance routine is online, it’s almost impossible to erase. Even laws that allow deletion can’t remove screenshots. Encourage your teen to consider how today’s content might look to a future employer or admissions officer and to say no when something crosses their comfort zone.

Finally, practice media literacy together. Watch popular videos and ask who profits. Is a seemingly candid family moment actually a paid ad? Is a glowing product review genuine or sponsored? When teens learn to question online messaging, they’re less likely to chase clout at the expense of their dignity.

We can’t shield our kids from every digital hazard, but we can give them a sense of their own value — financially and personally. The new laws in Utah, California, Illinois and Minnesota, along with Iraq’s registration rules, show society is waking up to the exploitation baked into influencer culture. Let’s ensure our kids do the same. Their worth isn’t measured in likes; it’s reflected in how they handle money, privacy and self-respect.

Sources: Utah joins California and Illinois in establishing safeguards for child influencers (ABC News); Iraq imposes new fees on social media influencers (Arab News).