In February, Ruby Franke, a Utah parenting blogger, was convicted of child abuse along with her friend Jodi Hildebrandt. The two pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse inflicted upon Franke’s two children. Before their joint YouTube channel ConneXions Classrooms, Franke ran her own vlog called 8Passengers featuring her husband and eight children. Franke’s daughter Shari spoke before the Utah House of Representatives warning about the dangers of posting children online for money and fame, highlighting the exploitation of child influencers in family vlogging content. She emphasized that there is never a good reason to expose children in such a manner.
Shari noted that Utah, with its LDS culture and large families, has become a hotspot for family content online. She stressed the importance of prioritizing child safety and privacy over financial gain and fame when it comes to sharing children in online content. Franke and Hildebrandt started their own parenting vlog, which became a significant source of income for Franke’s household. Shari revealed that the family’s vlogging work often involved bribing the children with rewards or expensive trips to ensure their participation in filmed content. Shari has been advocating for legal protections for child influencers to ensure fair compensation for their work.
Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested in 2023 for abusing two of Franke’s youngest children. The abuse was reported when Franke’s son escaped Hildebrandt’s home and sought help from a neighbor. Franke expressed remorse and acknowledged being led into a dark delusion that distorted her perception of reality for several years. She tearfully addressed her husband and children during her sentencing, accepting responsibility for her actions. Franke and Hildebrandt were sentenced to serve consecutive terms of one to 15 years for each charge of child abuse.
Shari Franke’s warning before the Utah legislature coincided with the premiere of a Lifetime movie about her mother titled “Mormon Mom Gone Wrong.” Shari criticized the film, stating that she and her siblings were not consulted or compensated for their portrayal in it. She urged the public not to support the movie, which she deemed as harmful to her family. Shari is set to release a book titled “The House of My Mother,” published by Simon and Schuster, in which she may further elaborate on her family’s experiences and the impact of her mother’s vlogging work on their lives.
The case of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt sheds light on the potential risks and ethical concerns associated with family vlogging and child influencers. Shari’s advocacy for legal protections for child influencers underscores the need for safeguards to prevent exploitation and ensure fair treatment of children in online content creation. The tragic consequences of Franke and Hildebrandt’s actions serve as a cautionary tale for parents and content creators about the importance of prioritizing children’s well-being and privacy in the digital age. It is a reminder of the responsibility that parents and creators have in safeguarding children in online environments and the potential dangers of exploiting them for financial gain.
