Shari Franke calls for stronger laws protecting powerful children

CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses child abuse.

Shari Frankedaughter of a disgraced family video blogger Ruby Frankespoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, testifying in favor of tougher laws protecting child influencers.

In August 2023, Ruby Franke of the YouTube account “8 Passengers” and her business partner. Jody Hildebrandt were arrested for aggravated child abuse.

A few months later, Ruby pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree child abuse and is now in prison, receiving four consecutive sentences ranging from one to 15 years.

More than a year later, Shari, Ruby’s eldest daughter, spoke about the dangers of child influencers and family bloggers at a Utah Senate committee hearing.

“I come today not as the daughter of a criminal or the victim of an abnormally cruel mother. I came today as a victim of a family vlog,” Shari began.

“My goal is not to present any idea of ​​a solution to this problem, but to shed light on the ethical and financial issues that arise from influencing children.”

Shari continued her statement by adding that while she was paid money, “it was usually a bribe.” She then recalled a time when she and her siblings were bribed with a $100 shopping trip if they “filmed a particularly awkward moment or exciting event” in their lives.

Some of the examples she used were the time she accidentally “waxed off her eyebrow” and how she got a starring role in one of her family’s vlogs because she was “gravely ill.”

“When kids become stars of online family content, they become child influencers,” Shari continued.

“It’s more than just filming your family life and posting it on the Internet. It’s a full-time job, with employees, business credit cards, managers and marketing strategies.”

During her testimony, Shari linked her experience influencing children to Stockholm syndrome, adding that while influential children think they have control over what is presented online, it is actually their guardians who use bribes or shame to obtain content.

“It’s the kids who don’t understand the consequences of us filming our lives and putting them out there for everyone to see,” Shari told lawmakers.

“We cannot give our parents consent to publish our lives. In any other context, it is clear that children cannot give consent, but for some reason people think that family vlogging is a different matter.”

Shari then emphasized that Utah is a “hot spot” for family vloggers and urged lawmakers to “address this problem before it becomes a bigger crisis than it is now.”

“The family vlog destroyed my innocence long before Ruby committed the crime,” Shari shared.

Shari’s testimony comes weeks after she criticized the film based on the crimes of Ruby and Jodie Emily Ullerup And Heather Locklear.

“Here’s my daily Lifetime movie reminder,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories.

“Please do not support this film. It’s traumatic for me to see this happen. Please help me and thank you for supporting me. To help, just don’t watch the trailer or any promotions.”

Since then, Shari has posted daily notes opposing the film’s production to her 612,000 Instagram followers.

Help is available.

• If you want to report online abuse, you can contact the police or the Australian Electronic Safety Commissioner. Here.
• If you would like to speak to someone about domestic violence, call the 1800 Respect helpline on 1800 737 732 or communicate online.
• Under 25? You can call the Children’s Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or communicate online.