Generation Z, sometimes called Zoomers, have never known a life without social media. They started sharing -or oversharing- their lives in middle school, and now have their own children. And many of them are vowing to never post pictures of their own kids online. Then there are those whose parents jumped on the internet during the rise of mommy bloggers or YouTubers. Their entire lives were published for the entertainment of others, and often for profit.
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The race for viral fame and a comfortable living is not the childhood they would have chosen. One young woman tells how, as a child, she was responsible for supporting her family by starring in her parents’ videos. She is contemplating cutting off all contact with them when she turns 18. Her story reminds us of Hollywood stage mothers who lived off their child’s labor and corrupted their formative years in the pursuit of fame and fortune.
Social media influencers can make a lot of money at the expense of their children, but the ultimate cost can be high. Teen Vogue looks into the lives of children who grew up as internet content, only to regret the permanent archive of their formative years.
Wil Wheaton responded to the article with his own thoughts, because as a child actor, he could see it coming. -via Metafilter
(Image credit: George Norkus)
Source: neatorama