This episode explores the rise and fall of Utah's mom influencer industry, focusing on the legal ramifications stemming from the Ruby Franke child abuse scandal. Against the backdrop of a thriving Utah influencer scene built on showcasing traditional family life and Mormon values, the Franke family's "Eight Passengers" YouTube channel achieved immense popularity before its unraveling. More significantly, the channel's success masked severe child abuse, leading to Franke's arrest and conviction. This prompted the state legislature to pass a new law, mandating trust funds for children featured in high-earning social media content and granting them the right to remove embarrassing videos upon turning 18. For instance, the law requires that if parents earn over $150,000 annually from social media featuring their children, a portion of the earnings must be set aside in a trust for the child's future. The episode highlights the lack of prior protections for children in this largely unregulated online space and suggests a potential trend of similar legislation in other states. This development underscores the need for greater regulation and protection of children within the influencer industry, reflecting emerging industry patterns regarding child safety and online content.
