Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty slammed parents exploiting children as social media influencers for fame and money, urging strict laws to curb mental harm and misuse risks, amid calls for India to mirror France’s child protections.
Murty delivered a stark warning in Parliament on the dangers of parents transforming young children into social media “products” for financial gain and online fame, emphasising how this erodes innocence, prevents informed consent, and inflicts lasting mental harm through relentless photos, videos, costumes, and ads.
She likened social media to a “knife that can cut fruit or kill,” pressing the government for immediate stringent regulations to shield minors from exploitation.
The statement has drawn bipartisan support, with experts highlighting India’s legal voids compared to France’s model, where child influencer earnings are safeguarded and parental consent is mandated-no dedicated Indian laws exist yet, though 2025 advisories urge ethical content.
Child Influencers: Innocence at Stake
Sudha Murty’s intervention paints a troubling picture of modern parenting, where toddlers and preteens are dressed up, scripted, and filmed non-stop for viral content, often monetised via sponsorships. “Kids are not content,” she declared, noting children forfeit playtime, sports, and studies, their natural curiosity replaced by cameras.
This commodification strips away innocence, as minors lack the maturity to consent to public exposure, leaving them vulnerable to psychological scars like anxiety and distorted self-image that linger into adulthood.
Experts amplify her concerns: former Unicef adviser Amal Saji describes the “kidfluencer boom” in states like Kerala as an ethical void, with family vlogs racking up millions of views while kids endure exhaustion. Private videos or provocative outfits shared online become predator bait, with misuse rampant on unmonitored platforms.
Murty stressed, “It will affect the child’s psychology in the long run,” humanising the crisis through stories of youngsters who crave normalcy but face parental pressure for likes and lucre.
Vital statistics underscore the scale: India boasts over 100 million child-facing social media accounts, with influencer marketing projected to hit ₹3,000 crore by 2025, much driven by family channels.
A 2025 survey by child rights groups found 40% of young influencers reporting stress from content demands, mirroring global trends where one in five child stars faces mental health issues.
Legal Gaps Exposed
Murty’s plea arrives against a backdrop of regulatory lag. Unlike France’s 2023 law-which requires judicial approval for monetised child content, rings-fences 75% of earnings in trust until age 16, and caps work hours-India relies on patchwork protections.
The Child Labour Act prohibits hazardous employment for under-14s, POCSO guards against sexual exploitation, and the Juvenile Justice Act covers general welfare, but none specifically tackle digital influencer abuse.
Recent developments highlight the push: In April 2025, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued self-regulatory guidelines for influencers, mandating disclosures for ads and ethical portrayal of minors, banning manipulative content or screen-time glorification.
The Supreme Court in August 2025 directed platforms to frame social media conduct rules, yet enforcement falters without child-specific mandates. Child rights activist Anuja Chauhan of HAQ Centre notes, “Parents treat kids as ATMs, but platforms profit without accountability-NCPCR must step in with binding norms.”
Incidents fuel the fire: Kerala saw backlash over “kidfluencer” families forcing 5-year-olds into 12-hour shoots, while nationwide cases involve leaked private videos leading to harassment. Internationally, US platforms like YouTube demonetised child exploitation channels post-2020 scandals, prompting India’s ASCI to tighten ad codes.
Cross-party MPs, including BJP’s Sushmita Dev and Congress’s Karti Chidambaram, voiced support in Rajya Sabha debates, signalling momentum for a dedicated bill.
Voices from the Frontlines
Government voices echo the alarm. MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju affirmed in a December 2025 presser, “We are consulting stakeholders for child-safety amendments to the IT Rules, prioritising consent and privacy.”
NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo added, “Over 5,000 complaints on online child exploitation this year-Murty’s words align with our push for influencer audits.” These statements reflect bureaucratic intent, though critics decry slow progress amid rising cases.
Activists like filmmaker Tahira Kashyap, who flagged similar issues on Instagram, argue for parental education campaigns. “It’s not just laws; awareness can shift mindsets,” she posted, gaining 50,000 engagements.
Child psychologist Dr. Shefali Sabharwal warns of “digital PTSD” from constant scrutiny, citing studies where exposed kids show 30% higher depression rates. Bipartisan backing grows, with Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin tweeting support for state-level curbs.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Turning children into content mills betrays their right to a carefree childhood, demanding India enact robust laws that honour dignity, empathy, and unscripted joy over viral greed.
The Logical Indian champions harmony through responsible digital citizenship-parents must prioritise well-being, platforms enforce safeguards, and policymakers deliver France-style protections to foster coexistence in the online age.
By nurturing kindness over clicks, we build a safer future.
