An increasing number of people are using social media as a gateway to fame. However, parents are also starting to use social media but as a gateway to their kid’s fame. Not all California State University Bakersfield students are young, single without any responsibilities as some are parents who may be concerned with parents creating fame for their kids.
As an active Instagram user, I see pictures of four or five year olds, especially girls, wearing clothes that are more suitable for teenagers. When I click on the profile, the biography says something like “fashion model” or “future fashion designer” then “account run by mommy”.
“I am not concerned with who looks at my daughter’s pictures since my profile is private and only those who follow me can look at those pictures,” said Joanna Garcia., an active social media
user and mother of a 4-year old. “I think it’s like playing dress up.” Unfortunately, parents are playing dress up with their children but as potential modeling careers.
When asked in an interview about parents creating a career for their children, soon to be mother Crystal Avila, sophomore, said, “Everyone has their own reasons, but I would like my daughter to enjoy her childhood by playing like ‘normal’ kids instead of making her work as a child when what I should be worried about as her mother is that she has a home, clothes on her back, and food to eat every day.”
The greater concern is putting your own children at risk. Some children models have over 10,000 followers and over 600 posts of which include pictures in a bathing suit. I find bathing suits for children appropriate as long as it is at the beach or at the pool; however, I am concern with the people looking at the pictures. The internet is used by many people including pedophiles.
“As long as they are not physically harming the child, I’m okay,” said nursing major Lizbeth Martinez. “I do not have any kids, but I have a little sister. I would not want my mom posting pictures of her in a bathing suit. I think that should only be seen by friends and family.”
Thankfully, social media allows us to make our profiles private and choose who we want looking at our pictures. Creating a modeling career for children is exploitation. Children should not be working thinking they are playing. Let them truly play dress up by dressing up in a Snow White or Spiderman costume.