Former child influencer Shari Franke recently opened up about the dark side of family vlogging, shedding light on the trauma she endured growing up on her mother’s popular YouTube channel, “8 Passengers.” Her mother, Ruby Franke, who ran the channel from 2015, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated child abuse after pleading guilty to abusing her 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.
Shari testified to U.S. lawmakers, revealing the exploitation behind the seemingly wholesome family content. She explained that being part of “8 Passengers” went beyond merely sharing moments of family life; it was a full-scale business operation with employees, credit cards, managers, and marketing strategies. Shari, now an adult, described the immense pressure she faced as a child influencer, where privacy was sacrificed for content and every vulnerable moment was made public for views.
One particularly troubling aspect of Shari’s experience was the use of money as a means to coerce her participation in videos. She recounted instances where she was paid $100 or promised a shopping trip in exchange for filming embarrassing moments. “Some of our most popular videos were when my eyebrow was accidentally waxed off,” Shari shared. “The world saw a crying teenager who just wanted to mourn in private.” These so-called “rewards” left Shari questioning the true cost of her childhood, which she felt was sold for online engagement and financial gain.
As Shari continued her testimony, she argued that there is no ethical justification for monetizing children’s lives on the internet, asking, “What price is worth giving up your childhood?” Despite the financial compensation she received, Shari admitted that if given a choice, she would prefer an “empty bank account” over having her private life exposed to millions of strangers.
Shari’s efforts now focus on raising awareness about the exploitation of children in family vlogging. She is advocating for stronger regulations to protect young influencers and aims to end the harmful practice of using children’s lives as entertainment for profit.
The downfall of Ruby Franke and the “8 Passengers” channel exposed the darker side of family content on social media. The abuse came to light when Ruby’s 12-year-old son escaped from the home of Jodi Hildebrandt, Ruby’s business partner, and sought help from a neighbor. The child was found malnourished and covered in wounds, leading to the discovery of similar mistreatment of Ruby’s 10-year-old daughter. Both women were subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison, bringing an end to a disturbing chapter in the world of family vlogging.
