1KHO 763: When Childhood Becomes Content | Fortesa Latifi, Like, Follow, Subscribe

In this powerful episode of The 1,000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Jenny Erich dives deep into Fortessa Latifi’s groundbreaking book, *Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online*. The conversation unpacks the complex evolution of mom blogging into the monetized world of family vlogging and child influencers, highlighting how these digital careers emerged as a lifeline for many working mothers facing economic and societal pressures. Latifi shares nuanced insights from interviews with families, kids, nannies, and experts, revealing both the financial empowerment and emotional toll of raising children in the public eye. While some kids thrive with early fame and lucrative careers, others feel trapped by constant content creation, privacy erosion, and the pressure to perform. The episode explores the ethical gray areas—how platforms profit from vulnerable content, brands demand child visibility, and algorithms reward suffering—while challenging the simplistic narrative that all influencer parenting is exploitative. Ultimately, the discussion calls for systemic change, including third-party oversight and stronger laws, while emphasizing that the real issue isn’t just the parents, but the entire ecosystem that enables and profits from children’s online lives.