California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two new laws aimed at protecting the financial interests of child social media influencers. The legislation, which will take effect next year, requires parents who profit from their children’s online presence to set aside a portion of the earnings in trust accounts for the minors.
The measures extend existing protections for child actors in traditional media to the digital realm, covering platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Under the new laws, parents must establish trusts for their children and keep detailed records of the minors’ appearances in online content and the associated earnings.
Child influencers will be entitled to a percentage of earnings based on their frequency of appearance in video blogs or online content that generates at least 10 cents per view. The laws apply to all children under 18 in California, surpassing similar legislation in Illinois that covers those under 16.
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The legislation also mandates that at least 15% of earnings for children employed as content creators on platforms like YouTube be deposited in a trust until they turn 18. This provision mirrors the Coogan Law, which has protected child actors since 1939.
Governor Newsom emphasized the need to update regulations to address modern forms of child exploitation in the entertainment industry. “In old Hollywood, child actors were exploited. In 2024, it’s now child influencers,” he stated.
The laws have garnered support from industry organizations such as SAG-AFTRA and former child stars like Demi Lovato. They are part of broader efforts by the Newsom administration to address the impact of social media on children’s mental health, including recent measures to limit phone use in schools and regulate addictive content on social media platforms.
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