The Ethics Of Exploiting Your Kids For YouTube Views 

In Malaysia, we like to say “keluarga nombor satu” — family comes first. Parents sacrifice, work long hours, save money, and plan their whole lives around their children. That is the Malaysian way.

But in the age of YouTube, TikTok, and monetised content, we are now facing a new situation that previous generations never had to think about:

What happens when children are no longer just part of the family — but part of the family income?

This is not a simple issue of posting Raya photos or birthday pictures on Facebook. This is about full-time family vlogging, daily content, sponsored posts, brand deals, and monetised videos where the main attraction is not the parent — but the child.

So we have to ask a question many people feel uncomfortable asking:

Is this family content — or is this child exploitation with WiFi and ring light?

When “Just Sharing” Becomes a Business

At first, many family channels start innocently. A few videos:

• First day of school
• Baby learning to walk
• Family trip to Langkawi
• Kids saying funny things
• Hari Raya preparation
• “Day in our life” videos

Normal family content. Nothing wrong with that.

But then the views go up. Followers increase. Brands start calling. Free products arrive. Paid promotions start coming in. Suddenly, the child is no longer just your child.

The child is now your content.

And when your household income starts depending on how cute, funny, or entertaining your child is on camera, we have crossed into a different ethical territory already.

This one is no longer just “sharing memories.” This is monetising childhood.

The Consent Issue — In Malaysia, Can Kids Even Say No?

Here’s the tricky part, especially in Malaysia.

In Western countries, kids are often encouraged to speak up. In Malaysia, many of us grew up with:

• “Jangan lawan cakap.”
• “Ikut saja.”
• “Mak ayah tahu apa yang terbaik.”
• “Jangan memalukan keluarga.”

So realistically, can a Malaysian child say:

“I don’t want to be filmed today.”

If the camera is part of the family income, can they refuse?
If a brand already paid for a sponsored video, can the child say no?
If the YouTube money is paying for the house, car, and school fees, does the child really have a choice?

Legally maybe the parents decide. But ethically, that situation is very kelabu (grey area).

Because obedience is not the same thing as consent.

Malu and Maruah — Now Turned Into Content

In Malaysian culture, we are very sensitive about malu and maruah keluarga. We don’t simply expose family problems to the public. If a child misbehaves, we handle it at home. If a child cries, we comfort them — not record them.

But now, some of the most viral content includes:

• Kids being scolded
• Kids crying
• Kids being pranked
• Kids being embarrassed
• Family arguments
• Personal problems
• Discipline moments

We need to ask ourselves honestly:

If this happened 20 years ago, would we invite the whole kampung to come watch?

If the answer is no, then why is it okay when the audience is strangers on the internet?

If The Child Is The Content, Where Is The Child’s Salary?

This is the part people don’t like to talk about.

If a YouTube channel makes money because people want to watch the child, then logically: The child is working.

Maybe not in an office. Maybe not in a factory. But the child is performing, being filmed, retaking scenes, following instructions, and appearing in sponsored content.

So simple question:

• Is the child getting paid?
• Is the money saved in the child’s name?
• Or is the child just “helping the family”?

In traditional TV, child actors have laws to protect their income and working hours. But on YouTube and TikTok in Malaysia, this area is still very new and not clearly regulated.

So we must ask a difficult question:

Are we raising children — or managing small unpaid influencers?

The Internet Never Forgets — Malaysian Society Always Remembers

Malaysian society is not very forgiving sometimes. People talk. People remember. People screenshot.

Today, a video of a child crying may be “cute content.”
Ten years later, that same video may be memalukan for that teenager.

Imagine going for a job interview and your future employer can search your name and see:

• Videos of you being scolded
• Videos of you crying
• Videos of you being pranked
• Videos of your private childhood moments

Childhood used to be private. Now childhood is searchable.

So… Exploitation or Opportunity?

To be fair, not all family content creators are bad parents. Some are responsible. Some protect their children’s privacy. Some save money for their kids. Some genuinely just share positive family content.

But ethics is not about the good cases.

Ethics is about what happens when people become greedy, when money becomes the priority, and when the child cannot say no.

So maybe the real question Malaysians should ask is very simple:

Are we doing this for the child’s future, or for the family’s present income?

Because in Malaysia, we always say: “Semua ini untuk anak-anak.” (All this is for the children.)

But in the world of monetised family content, sometimes we must ask the uncomfortable question:

Is the child the reason — or is the child the product?

And that is a question Malaysian society will have to answer sooner or later.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of any organization or affiliates with which the author is associated.