How this law is protecting child influencers in Illinois

A law protecting child influencers in Illinois has officially gone into effect.

The state passed a bill into law in August 2023, after it was introduced by Democratic Sen. David Koehler. It has now been implemented since July 1, 2024, as a part of Illinois' existing Child Labor Law, stating that children under the age of 16 "perform[ing] in an artistic or creative service" are entitled to compensation from their parent or guardians' digital content.

These posts are defined by the state as "content shared on an online platform in exchange for compensation." The law states that if a child is present in at least 30 percent of a parent or guardian's social media posts over the course of a month (30 days), they are entitled to a share of the revenue obtained. The funds will have to be put aside into a trust that the child can access upon turning 18. If a parent fails to comply, their children have the right to take action.

As Mashable reported last year, the law was brought to Sen. Koehler's attention after Shreya Nallamothu, an Illinois-based teen, raised the issue. Nallamothu wrote a letter to the senator, telling CNN about the permanence of online content: "The fact that these kids are either too young to grasp that or weren’t given the chance to grasp that is really sad."

The law could be a fundamental step in the right direction, paving the way for other states to follow. According to Rolling Stone, other states like Maryland, California, and Wisconsin are considering similar action. Illinois is the first state to actually implement this kind of legislation so far.

Efforts to protect child influencers have heightened in recent years. High-profile cases involving children and family influencers, including the arrest of vlogger Ruby Franke and case against YouTube mother Tiffany Smith, have brought necessary attention to the cause.