California passes law to protect those who influence children from exploitation

California has passed new laws to protect minors appearing in online content, expanding the scope of the 1939 Coogan Act to address the rise of child influencers.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills – SB 764 and AB 1880 – that impose financial protections for minors appearing in revenue-generating online content. These regulations require parents or guardians to allocate part of their earnings to a trust fund and to keep detailed documentation regarding the income generated and the amount set aside.

The legislation was welcomed by supporters including singer and former child star Demi Lovato, who supported the effort at a bill signing ceremony. “To build a better future for the next generation of child stars, we must ensure protection for minors working in the digital space,” he added. Lovato said. She recently appeared in Child StarHulu documentary exploring the lives of young performers in Hollywood and highlighting the need for stronger online protections for child creators.

The new legislation aims to fill gaps in the Coogan Act, which was intended to protect child actors by requiring 15% of their earnings to be placed in a trust. However, the original law did not cover children working as influencers or consuming online content. Newsom acknowledged the evolving threats to children in today’s entertainment landscape, stating: “Much has changed since the early days of Hollywood, but here in California, our focus on protecting children from abuse remains the same.”

The need for such laws has become more urgent with the rise of family “vlog” channels, which often feature children. The laws are intended to protect these children from financial exploitation, but concerns remain about the wider social and psychological consequences of excessive online exposure.

Advocates have warned of the psychological risks of “sharing” – a term used to describe parents over-sharing of their children’s lives on social media. Some lawmakers are now pushing for additional privacy protections to help children who may be exploited without their consent.

Featured photo courtesy of Governor Gavin Newsom

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