The High Price of Public Childhood

Before they can speak, some children are already building audiences—millions of followers watching their first steps, birthdays, and even their most vulnerable moments unfold online. What begins as innocent sharing can quickly evolve into a lucrative industry, where family life is transformed into content and childhood itself becomes a brand. In this episode, we explore the rise of kidfluencing, tracing how everyday milestones—and at times deeply personal struggles—are packaged for global consumption. We examine the business behind viral family channels, the legal gray areas that leave young creators unprotected, and the ethical tensions between opportunity and exploitation. The story reveals a digital economy built on visibility, where the line between parenting and production blurs—and where the true cost of growing up online is only beginning to surface.https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/04/16/the-dark-side-of-posting-about-your-children-online