🎥 SMACC Family Membership: Supporting Parent-Managed Child Creators
As the creator economy expands, children are increasingly featured on growing YouTube channels, Instagram Reels, and other social platforms — often with large followings and brand potential. Many of these channels are run legally and responsibly by parents, but the rules can be murky.
SMAC is proud to introduce the Family Membership, a new Paid Membership Pro (PMP) level designed to support parents managing child-run influencer accounts.
👶 Who Are Family Creators?
A “family creator” is typically a parent or guardian managing a digital presence on behalf of a child, often under 13, but sometimes teens too.
These channels:
- Feature child-led content, e.g. toy reviews, family vlogs, craft tutorials
- Are operated by parents (including publishing, messaging, and monetization)
- Can legally appear on platforms within certain age limits and with parental control
✨ Example: SMACC members Leanna and her 6-year-old daughter run a popular Instagram account with over 13,000 followers — entirely managed by the parent.
👼 Can Children Under 13 Be Featured in Videos? Yes — If Parents Are in Control
You’ve probably seen YouTube videos of 4-year-olds doing toy unboxings, 6-year-olds reviewing games, or 10-year-olds vlogging with their families. So how does that work when platforms like YouTube and Instagram require users to be 13 or older?
🧠Here’s how it’s legal — and widely accepted:
Children under 13 can be featured in content — even regularly — as long as:
- The account is owned and operated by an adult (typically a parent)
- The child is not the legal account holder or monetization recipient
- The parent or guardian manages all publishing, brand communication, and platform settings
- Content complies with platform policies and local child protection laws
âś… In your case: your six-year-old children have a 13,000-follower Instagram account. It’s operated entirely by you and your partner — that’s perfectly legal and common practice.
🕵️‍♂️ Why Platforms Allow This
Most major platforms don’t ban the appearance of children — they restrict account ownership and data collection for under-13s.
| Platform | Under-13s Can Be Featured? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | âś… Yes | Parent owns channel, complies with COPPA |
| âś… Yes | Parent manages account, discloses relationship | |
| TikTok | âś… With limits | Parent-managed, limited comments, no live |
| âś… Yes | Parent posts on page or account they control |
🏦 Legal Framework: COPPA (U.S.) & GDPR-K (EU)
- COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act):
Limits collection of personal data for children under 13 in the U.S.
Platforms can show children in content, but must restrict data collection. - GDPR-K (EU):
Similar protection, but the age threshold may vary by country (13–16)
📌 These laws affect how platforms handle children’s data, not whether kids can appear on camera.
🌟 Platform Guidelines at a Glance
| Platform | Minimum Age to Open Account | Can Children Be Featured? | Monetization Available? | Parental Control Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 13 (with parental consent) | âś… Yes | âś… Yes (via parent acct) | YouTube Kids, Studio mgmt |
| 13 | âś… Yes (via parent acct) | âś… Yes (brand/influencer) | Parent-run account only | |
| TikTok | 13 | ✅ Yes (restrictions apply) | ⚠️ Limited under 18 | Family Pairing, comments off |
| 13 | âś… Yes (via parent page) | âś… Yes (Pages) | Parent admin only | |
| YouTube Kids | N/A (viewer only) | ✅ View-only (not for creators) | ❌ No | Parent-controlled content |
🛑 Important: Children cannot legally sign contracts, receive payments directly, or manage brand deals. All monetization must be handled by an adult.
đź’° Monetization Rules for Child-Run Channels
If your child’s content is growing, here’s what you need to know:
- YouTube Ad Revenue: Must be under a parent’s AdSense account
- Instagram Sponsorships: Managed via DM and disclosures; child cannot negotiate
- TikTok Creator Fund: Age-restricted, often not accessible under 18
- Product placements: Must follow local advertising and child labor laws
- Brand deals: Always signed by the parent/guardian
✨ SMAC encourages transparency: every brand deal or monetized post involving children should disclose #ad, and ideally note “parent-managed account”.
👨‍👧 Introducing the SMACC Family Membership
We’re excited to announce the SMACC Family Membership — a new premium tier designed for parents of young creators.
👇 What It Includes:
- Membership account in the parent’s name
- Directory listing (optional) for the child’s channel, marked as “family managed”
- Access to legal and ethical guidelines
- Templates for:
- Brand deal disclosures
- Privacy policies
- Age-appropriate content planning
- Priority support for monetization setup and content advice
Who It’s For:
- Parents managing accounts for children under 18
- Family-run influencer channels
- Parents seeking brand partnerships while staying compliant
💡 You do not need to add your child’s personal details. All information stays with the adult account holder.
🌟 Our Mission: Ethical, Empowered, and Legal
SMACC exists to support creators — including our youngest stars — in a way that’s safe, legal, and sustainable. The Family Membership ensures that parents aren’t left guessing about what’s allowed, and that children’s content is handled responsibly.
đź‘Ł Ready to Join?
The SMACC Family Membership is now available on our Join page.
Have questions? Contact us directly or check out the FAQ in the member dashboard.
