Today's Article

"Childhood is now in ways that we've never seen before being 2commoditized." 

Many family vloggers post multiple videos a month. And even though kids may be a big 3feature in the 4monetized clips, parents had no 5legal obligation to give their children any portion of 6earnings. That's now changed. 

Illinois' new law sets rules for how and when parents must 7set aside a percentage of money made from content creation where a child is featured, which they can access when they turn 18. 

"Sometimes it's the only source of income for a family. And I think that really complicates the parent-child, employer-employee relationships that we 8deal with." 

Illinois' law is modeled off California's Coogan Act from the 1930s, which was inspired by a child actor who saw his money 9swindled away by his parents. Following Illinois' lead, other states have 10enacted and 11proposed similar bills, including California. 

"Set some standards about what kind of burden are we 12putting on parents and content creators that are 13reasonable and 14appropriate to protect against 15exploitation." 

Advocates say financial protections are a good start, but more work is needed. 

"It's really the same fight in a slightly different form as the fight to 16impose child labor laws. How do we make sure that children have a safe and healthy childhood when everywhere they go, there is money to be made in exploiting one part or another about them?"