Parents Involving Children in Social Media Content Creation: What Are the Impacts and Risks?
JAKARTA — The phenomenon of parents involving children in content creation on social media has become increasingly common over recent years. Various family activities, ranging from daily routines to creative endeavours, are now frequently shared through digital platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. For some families, this content serves as a way to preserve memories whilst sharing experiences with others. However, children’s involvement in digital spaces also raises important questions about the impact on child development.
Child psychologist Astrid Wen assesses that children’s involvement in social media content creation is not inherently problematic. Rather, what requires careful attention is how the process unfolds. She emphasises that the interaction between parents and children during content creation is a crucial factor to consider. “For instance, the interaction that occurs with the child during content production, safety aspects, terms and conditions, and whether the process continues to protect the child’s welfare,” Astrid told Kompas.com.
According to Astrid, children’s involvement in content production is actually similar to children working in entertainment industries such as film or television. In those sectors, there are typically clear regulations to protect child welfare. “Usually there are specific protective procedures, including consent and work arrangements that consider the child’s psychological condition and wellbeing. The same principles should also be considered in the context of social media content,” she explained.
On the other hand, Astrid stated that creating content with children can also yield positive impacts if approached correctly. She explained that this activity can serve as a bonding experience between parent and child that strengthens their relationship whilst opening opportunities for the child to learn new things. “Content creation can be viewed as a shared activity. If the child enjoys it and the activity helps explore new knowledge and experiences, then the impact can be positive,” she said.
Additionally, children can experience enjoyable emotional experiences during the process. “Children can experience positive emotions, develop creativity, and look forward to future experiences,” she added.
However, such positive outcomes can only be achieved if the activity genuinely aligns with the child’s interests. Astrid cautioned that the situation can change if the child is not genuinely interested in content creation but is continuously involved regardless. In such circumstances, the child risks feeling forced to participate in activities against their wishes. “However, if the activity is not the child’s interest, then it is quite likely to become a compulsion,” she said.
If this continues over an extended period, children may display various negative emotional responses. “In such conditions, children can experience negative emotions, become uncooperative, complain, or even develop conflict with parents,” Astrid noted. “If this continues persistently, unhealthy interaction patterns between child and parent can form,” she added.
Beyond the child’s interests, Astrid also highlighted other potential risks that can emerge if content creation is undertaken too frequently. According to her, this situation can occur when the focus of the activity shifts from the child’s needs to content production. “The risks that may emerge include when the activity is no longer centred on the child’s needs and interests, but rather on content production demands,” she said.
In such conditions, children may experience psychological pressure from having to continuously participate in content creation. “In this situation, children can experience stress, emotional exhaustion, or feel that they are merely objects in the process,” she noted. “Additionally, excessive exposure in digital spaces can also create risks regarding the child’s privacy and digital footprint in the future,” she added.
According to her, information or content uploaded to the internet can persist for extended periods and potentially influence the child’s future life. Astrid also explained that there are several considerations in determining the boundary between normal family documentation and potential child exploitation. One important aspect is the child’s consent. “Whether the child is willing or not. For very young children not yet able to express consent verbally, parents need to consider their developmental capacity,” she explained.
She added that parents need to be attentive to the child’s responses during the recording process. “For instance, a baby or toddler not looking at the camera or moving actively is normal. However, if the child shows gestures of unwillingness to be recorded, the recording should be stopped to prioritise the child’s sense of safety and trust,” she concluded.