Imagine yourself as a child at a crossroads, about to enter adolescence. Not only does your body gradually show changes, but your understanding of the world is also forming the foundation of who you are. Of course, this period is filled with confusion as you encounter many things yet still lack a full grasp of the larger world.
Many people get through this fragile period, but what happens if a child at this age must stand under the spotlight of social media? In a time when platforms generate income for adults, some children are pushed into an industry driven by engagement metrics and criticism, which can damage their developing identities during this critical growth phase.
Today, many children become Content Creators at a young age—some by their own choice (without sufficient adult guidance), others introduced by their parents. As the online world becomes their workplace, the boundaries between personal life and work become noticeably blurred.
For many children, what may start as a hobby or fun activity can turn into a business they must pursue for profit. This leads to role reversal, known as Parentification, where children are forced to take on adult-level responsibilities inappropriate for their developmental stage.
In many families, children bear financial expectations, such as supporting their families, instead of experiencing a typical childhood. This effectively robs them of their youth, compelling them to prioritize caregivers’ physical or emotional needs over their own growth.
These circumstances cause children to miss opportunities to try new things, build friendships, and learn social skills—critical elements for emotional and personality development.
Facing the vast online environment with abundant criticism and cyberbullying can leave developing children confused about their identities, struggling with emotional regulation, and at risk for mental health problems over time.
Psychology of adolescence and children’s self-reflection
Thairath Plus spoke with Associate Professor Dr. Jirapat Raweepatrakul, a developmental psychology lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Psychology. Dr. Jirapat explained that as a child enters adolescence, alongside bodily changes, their cognitive processes develop to understand more abstract concepts, though their reasoning and impulse control remain immature. Stress also commonly arises during this transition.
Most importantly, they enter a stage of questioning “Who am I?” which makes this period especially vulnerable.
Therefore, when a child enters adolescence while becoming a content creator exposed to the spotlight—sharing personal stories with a large audience of strangers capable of any reaction—it poses significant risks to their development.
Dr. Jirapat remarked that children at this age are not ready for full-time work life because their world should be about fun and learning. Especially when their personal lives and content creation blur, children may feel constant stress, pressured by income, likes, and followers. Consequently, the joy of learning gradually fades, replaced by stress.
Moreover, a child’s brain at this stage is particularly sensitive to rewards and received feedback, making them prone to internalizing external judgments. The ability for anyone to comment freely online means children use this input as a mirror to evaluate their self-worth.
At the same time, children’s limited understanding of the world means they often lack coping mechanisms for the flood of opinions on social media, resulting in difficulty managing emotions. Dr. Jirapat also noted some children may lack sufficient judgment to use online media safely, increasing their problems.
The price child influencers must pay
According to The Wave Clinic, a specialized adolescent institute that collected voices from former child influencers, three main issues emerged: imbalance between education and content creation, uncertainty whether friends are genuine or attracted by fame, and feelings of alienation and loneliness despite thousands of fans. Virtual interactions cannot replace real-world relationships.
Additionally, the online world steals space for natural growth, causing these children to neglect fundamental life aspects such as education, diverse skill development, and other abilities necessary for future life after the spotlight fades.
These social and psychological impacts may shape them into adults with distorted perspectives, equating success with fame, happiness with money, and a good life with massive follower counts.
Parental vigilance over children’s consent
While children’s charm may motivate adults to share their stories, once this becomes content,
it raises the question: have these children truly chosen to enter this industry? Dr. Jirapat observed that some children may lack the capacity to understand or consent, or have not received enough information about this career before deciding.
Adults should clarify the pros and cons children will face in this field and consider how the content posted now might impact their future selves. This could potentially shake their identity and beliefs later in life.
Dr. Pamela Rutledge from the Children and Screens Institute recommends psychological counseling immediately for families with child influencers, as this situation is highly challenging and complex.
For families with child content creators, parents should teach children how to engage with the online world healthily, set clear boundaries about content creation days and times, ensure real offline breaks, and protect time for normal childhood routines beyond checking likes.
Parents should also discuss what is private and should not be shared online, create a safe home environment where the child need not be a content creator constantly, teach that self-worth is not tied to likes, and frequently talk about how the child feels about online comments.
Most importantly, parents must ask whether the child is still happy doing this without pressure from income or likes.
Ultimately, amid criticism and lively commentary, while many see children gaining likes, followers, and money, these are temporary factors. The psychological cost and wounds from being judged in youth will stay with them for life. Often, no matter how much time passes or money is spent, these scars may never fully heal.