Tennessee bill regulating family influencers passes legislature – WSMV

New Tennessee Legislation Protects Children Featured in Online Content

Introduction

The state of Tennessee has enacted a new law requiring influencers who feature children in their monetized online content to compensate those children fairly. This legislation, known as SB1469, aims to protect children’s rights and financial interests in the digital economy, aligning with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Key Provisions of SB1469

1. Children under 14 years old are prohibited from earning money by posting their own content online.
2. Children aged 14 to 18 are entitled to 100% of the earnings generated from content they post themselves.
3. If a child appears in at least 30% of a creator’s monetized content within a 30-day period, the child must be compensated. The earnings must be placed in a trust fund accessible to the child upon reaching 18 years of age.
4. Content creators are required to maintain detailed records, including:
   • Revenue generated from content
   • Percentage of content featuring the child
   • Funds allocated to the child’s trust
5. Children aged 14 to 18 have the right to request removal of videos featuring them, and content creators must comply by deleting such videos.

Enforcement and Legislative Intent

• The law will be enforced through civil actions; no criminal penalties are attached.
• Senator Page Walley, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the legislation targets monetized content rather than casual or family videos, ensuring children benefit from the financial gains derived from their image and likeness.
• The legislation reflects a growing recognition of children’s rights in the digital economy, promoting responsible content creation and economic justice.

Context and Implementation Timeline

• The bill follows similar laws enacted in Illinois, California, Minnesota, and Utah, demonstrating a nationwide trend toward protecting child influencers.
• Governor Bill Lee is expected to sign the bill, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This legislation contributes to the following SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By ensuring fair compensation and protection for child labor in digital content creation.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By safeguarding children’s rights to income generated from their participation in online media, reducing economic disparities.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Through the establishment of legal frameworks that protect vulnerable populations, including children, in emerging economic sectors.

Conclusion

The enactment of SB1469 marks a significant step toward protecting children’s rights in the digital age, ensuring they receive equitable financial benefits from online content featuring their image and participation. This law supports sustainable economic growth and social justice, in line with global development goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article discusses new child labor law regulations aimed at protecting children featured in monetized online content, which relates to promoting decent work conditions and protecting labor rights.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The enforcement of the law through civil action and the protection of children’s rights in digital content reflect efforts to build effective, accountable institutions and ensure access to justice.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Ensuring children receive fair compensation for their contributions to online content addresses economic inequalities and promotes social inclusion.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
   • Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including vulnerable groups such as children.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicators Related to SDG 8 Targets
   • Proportion of children aged 5-17 engaged in child labor (implied through the focus on child labor laws).
   • Number of children receiving compensation for online content participation (implied by the requirement to pay children and set aside money in trust).
   • Compliance rate of content creators in maintaining records of monetized content involving children.
2. Indicators Related to SDG 16 Targets
   • Number of civil actions taken to enforce child labor protections in online content (implied by enforcement through civil action).
   • Existence and effectiveness of legal frameworks protecting children’s rights in digital media.
3. Indicators Related to SDG 10 Targets
   • Proportion of children benefiting financially from their participation in online content (implied by the law requiring compensation and trust funds).

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: wsmv.com