A YouTube star has revealed she resents her parents and wants a 'no-contact' order after being forced to perform in front of a camera for views. The content creator, whose name has been changed to Claire to protect her privacy, went viral as a toddler and has had almost every single one of her milestones captured on camera ever since.
She says both her parents quit their jobs to become full-time YouTubers after realising they could make more money this way. Her parents went on to spend the money to purchase a new home and car as well as other luxuries like clothes, meals out and trips away. But when Claire told her dad she didn't want to create YouTube videos any more, he said she'd have to move out and go back to work, as she would no longer be able to afford "nice things".
When speaking to Teen Vogue, Claire said: "That's not fair that I have to support everyone. I try not to be resentful but I kind of [am]."
Alike many big YouTubers with millions of subscribers, Claire has her own merchandise line that also helps to support her family's lifestyle.
Claire admits her channel has caused her to have an unusual relationship with her parents, as her dad has previously reminded her that he may be her father, but is also her boss.
She said: "It's a lot of pressure."
When she turned 18-years-old, she wants to move out of her family home and is considering a 'no-contract order' with her parents after having to support them almost her entire life.
She plans to speak out about the reality of being a YouTube child star when she is no longer living under their roof, saying "nothing they [her parents] do now is going to take back the years of work I had to put in".
Although her parents claim to be putting some money aside for her college fund, there are currently no laws protecting the earnings of child influencers.
Many activists are pushing new laws similar to California's Coogan Law that ensures 15 per cent of a child actors' earnings is set aside by the employer in a block trust.
Commenting on child influencers on Twitter, one user said: "This is worse than child stars because this is their every single day life. Wake up & it’s vlog time. Your first broken arm? Vlogged. Every bit of what should be your private life is on camera."
Another user added: "No tutors on set, no limits on working hours, no barrier between them and nasty criticism or crazed fans, no hard-earned protections fought for by former child stars who have been there before. Recipe for disaster."
A third user said: "In the old days of child stars there were other actors, directors, producers and so on who could potentially step in if things went too far, keep the parents and child grounded in reality. Now it's just the parents and the kid."
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