“neoliberal capitalism and our economic decline is forcing desperate moms to take up social media”
I hate this argument. Unemployment is 4.3%. There are tens of millions of working class people who get obliterated by the statement, “what else am I supposed to do.”
There’s a lot wrong with our economy but if you’re waiting on sub 4.3% unemployment for your morals to show up, you might just be an amoral person.
"shining a light" is a hilarious tell. "What kind of light do you imagine that you are shining? A spotlight? Stage lights? Neon lights that light up your name?" It just screams Stage Mom
It probably comes from the Mormon corner of the momfluencers. “Shining a light unto the world” is a common phrase in the LDS church essentially referring to embodying a worthy and Christlike life to others.
I struggle to see how most of these family vloggers are doing that, because it’s all so performative.
I've never watched momfluencers on social media (mostly because I don't watch much in short form videos and because that type of content wouldn't interest me); however, I did watch "OutDaughtered" on TLC for a while, which followed a couple raising five young quintuplets. Looking back, I can't imagine that kind of reality TV series is much better for the kids, but perhaps there's a clearer slighly healthier division between "camera crew here/not here" vs. "mommy has her phone all the time".
I got to the part about filming kids' embarrassing moments and had to stop reading this article. I'll probably go back and finish, but the idea of filming your kid having wet the bed in order to monetize it is ... ghoulish? disgusting? immoral? I'm not even sure. And then the viewers? They find this entertaining?
I worry a lot about whether I'm a good parent, but I guess I can at least console myself that I'm better than these people.
Curios if she interviewed Luke from Outdoor Boys - he’s the most prominent family adjacent content creator I’m aware of who walked away from it allegedly for family reasons
It sounds like there’s plenty of blame to go around. The parents. The platforms. That brands that demand kids be in the video seems especially egregious.
“neoliberal capitalism and our economic decline is forcing desperate moms to take up social media”
I hate this argument. Unemployment is 4.3%. There are tens of millions of working class people who get obliterated by the statement, “what else am I supposed to do.”
There’s a lot wrong with our economy but if you’re waiting on sub 4.3% unemployment for your morals to show up, you might just be an amoral person.
"shining a light" is a hilarious tell. "What kind of light do you imagine that you are shining? A spotlight? Stage lights? Neon lights that light up your name?" It just screams Stage Mom
It probably comes from the Mormon corner of the momfluencers. “Shining a light unto the world” is a common phrase in the LDS church essentially referring to embodying a worthy and Christlike life to others.
I struggle to see how most of these family vloggers are doing that, because it’s all so performative.
I've never watched momfluencers on social media (mostly because I don't watch much in short form videos and because that type of content wouldn't interest me); however, I did watch "OutDaughtered" on TLC for a while, which followed a couple raising five young quintuplets. Looking back, I can't imagine that kind of reality TV series is much better for the kids, but perhaps there's a clearer slighly healthier division between "camera crew here/not here" vs. "mommy has her phone all the time".
"I had no earthly clue this was even a thing, and I feel much grosser for having learned of it", episode number threeve.
I got to the part about filming kids' embarrassing moments and had to stop reading this article. I'll probably go back and finish, but the idea of filming your kid having wet the bed in order to monetize it is ... ghoulish? disgusting? immoral? I'm not even sure. And then the viewers? They find this entertaining?
I worry a lot about whether I'm a good parent, but I guess I can at least console myself that I'm better than these people.
Another excellent piece of writing. Thoughtful, informative, and packed with insight. Kudos.
Curios if she interviewed Luke from Outdoor Boys - he’s the most prominent family adjacent content creator I’m aware of who walked away from it allegedly for family reasons
It sounds like there’s plenty of blame to go around. The parents. The platforms. That brands that demand kids be in the video seems especially egregious.
Agreed 100%. What these parents do to the kids is basically abuse and watching it is funding that abuse.