Shari Franke, the eldest daughter of formerly popular family vlogger Ruby Franke, testified in favor of laws protecting child influencers in Utah, stating that “there is no such thing as a moral or ethical family vlogger.” She spoke about her own experiences as a child of a family vlogger, highlighting the harm that can be done to children who are thrust into the influencing space. Shari’s testimony comes as proposals for child influencer laws move through several states, with Illinois, Minnesota, and California already passing such legislation.
She described her mother, Ruby Franke, who was arrested for child abuse, as a prominent family vlogger. Shari spoke about the lack of financial and privacy protections for children featured in monetized online content and compared the experience to having Stockholm syndrome, where children may feel they have control over what is posted when in reality, their parents use shame or bribes to make them comply. Shari urged Utah lawmakers to address this issue to prevent it from becoming a larger crisis.
Ruby Franke, mother of six and former star of the “8 Passengers” YouTube channel, faced criticism for her parenting choices and was arrested on multiple charges of child abuse in August 2023. She later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison. Shari celebrated her mother’s arrest on social media, expressing relief that justice was being served. Franke’s business partner, Jodi Hildenbrandt, also faced charges and the same sentence.
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