Trouble in Parent Paradise: How New Child Protection Laws in California have Family Vloggers Fleeing the State

Written by Kate Harbour

Media Analytics Executive

Photo courtesy of tubebuddy.com.

Family content has been a staple of the YouTube content community since 2013, with family vloggers such as DaddyoFive, Shay Carl and DailyBumps pioneering the genre. Family vlogging began with down-to-earth content for people of all ages, including challenges, pranks, “Day in the Life” videos and DIY content. However, as YouTube and TikTok’s popularity grew, family content has turned into an industry of its own. 

At the beginning of family content, very few family channels got brand deals, but with the increased use of social media apps, the genre has exploded. 

Companies have noticed the rise in popularity of family vlogging and the large platforms they have. These companies have begun to give these content creators brand deals. One of the most popular family vlogging channels, the LaBrant family, has amassed over 53 million followers on TikTok alone. This has allowed companies to expand their reach and market to a large group of people. The LaBrant family has collaborated with several companies, from designing a line of sweaters with Cupshe to working with Shein and King’s Hawaiian. These collaborations and the money from views have given the LaBrant family an estimated net worth of 18 million dollars. 

Family content centers around children; however, unlike child actors who receive a portion of their earnings from their jobs due to laws like Coogan's Law, children on family vlogging channels often receive little to no compensation. Coogan’s Law is a policy that protects the earnings of people under 18 in the entertainment, music and sports industries. The law requires that 15% of total earnings be placed in a blocked trust account that the minor will receive access to when they turn 18. 

California noticed how much family vloggers were making and how little was set aside for children and passed Assembly Bill 1880 and Senate Bill 764. Both these laws work to protect children who are featured in online content. 

Assembly Bill 1800 works to modernize Coogan’s Law, protecting minors earning money from digital platforms. This law extends to YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Senate Bill 764 is also known as the Child Content Creator Rights. Steve Padilla, California State Senator, said that the bill “requires content creators that feature minors in at least 30% of their content to set aside 65% of a proportionate percentage of total gross earnings in a trust account the minor can access when they reach adulthood.” 

A short time after these laws were passed, many prominent family channels decided to move to Tennessee, where no such laws exist. While there is no direct link between family influencers leaving the state, family-focused creators such as Cecily Bauchmann, The LaBrant Family and Brittany Xavier have all left California for Tennessee. 

Over the years, family content has changed from relatable challenges and DIYs to a booming industry that generates brand deals and partnerships. As online presence and brand attention grew, so did the concern for the welfare of the children featured in online content. While the laws created by California, Minnesota and Illinois have set a positive example for other states, the lack of federal regulation around family content allows people to bypass these laws by moving to a state with fewer restrictions.