Our parent company, the Local Moms Network recently shared more about author, Fortesa Latifi.. learn more below:
Fortesa Latifi is a Los Angeles-based journalist and soon to be mom-of-two. Her new book, Life, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online focuses on a hot topic: the child influencer industry. While family social accounts continue to be incredibly popular, cases like Ruby Franke, where a popular mom influencer was arrested for child abuse, have shown the dark side of monetizing children’s social media presence.
We asked Fortesa about her new book, how she handles social media with her own toddler, and her suggestions for keeping kids safe on social media.
What do most followers of kids whose parents showcase their lives for content not understand?
I don’t think that people understand the degree to which the camera becomes a member of the family. Over and over, I asked influencer parents and kids what it was like to be filmed in vulnerable or distressing moments and they told me they were used to it. It was just their normal.
What are the biggest takeaways that you heard from kids, parents and the experts?
You know, I think the fascinating thing about doing this reporting was that I heard something different from each source. Some kids I talked to for the book hated that their parents were influencers; some kids loved it and hoped to follow in their footsteps. Some parents seemed to be really grappling with questions of consent and privacy; other parents seemed to be totally side-stepping them.
Experts, however, were genuinely uniform in their concern for the kids of influencers and how growing up like that will impact them.
What are your suggestions for keeping your kids safe and healthy if you’re an influencer?
I think it’s different for every influencer and for every family. But I will say that, in the reporting of this book, I talked to someone who worked for the FBI who shed light on just how many predators are watching this content. In that vein, if I were a mom influencer, I would be careful about the content I shared. I would be sure not to share content in which my child was half-dressed or just in a diaper or doing or saying something that could be misconstrued by predators.
Do you think the tide is turning on this topic?
It’s interesting because I think the answer is both. On one hand, the backlash against influencer kids and families has never been louder and there are actual legislative efforts being passed to try to address it. On the other hand, there have never been more influential kids and families that are making a ton of money in this industry. So the backlash, while it’s real and gaining steam, doesn’t seem to be hurting the bottom line.
Do you put your own child on social media at all?
I don’t. If I ever do show my daughter, it’s from the back or side so that her face isn’t showing. From the moment I became pregnant, I just felt so protective over her. I feel a strong pull to keep her to myself and to our families as long as we can. I also don’t want her to be part of my work. Her work is to be a child.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’m not a person who believes that any parent who shares their child online in monetized content is evil or immoral or a bad parent. I truly think there’s a level of nuance we’re missing in this conversation and my book is my attempt to insert that nuance.
Did you enjoy learning about Fortesa Latifi? Visit any of the links below from The Local Moms Network for some recent conversations!
Meet a Mom: Mom Advocate and Influencer Paige Connell
Screen Time: 9 Ways to Help Your Kids Form a Healthy Relationship with Tech
