The law is clear: there are no social networks under the age of 13. yet the children of public figures and young influencers seem to have no problem getting around it.
They manage their Instagram accounts like professionals. children have taken over the social network with 2 million users. And whether they’re young influencers or ‘nepo kids’, they’re not bothered by the law that bans under-13s from having social media accounts. However, on Instagram, TikTok or even Facebook, both in France and in the US, the age limit is the same. But young people still manage to create accounts. Just 12-year-old Julia Sarkozy recently appeared on Instagram, between horse races and photo shoots with her horse Valentin du Delta (who lends her name to the account), Carla Bruni’s daughter already has more than 9,000 followers.
Bend the rules
If celebrity kids are breaking the rules, they’re not the only ones. According to a study published in 2023 by the Heaven agency in collaboration with the Génération Numérique association, 71% of 12-year-olds say they use at least one social network. Nothing could be simpler to avoid being exposed. children lie about their age when registering. A process that can be dangerous because, as the algorithm recommends content based on the user’s age, they may be exposed to images or videos that are inappropriate for their age.
Responsible parents
Another method of operation. these parents who create and manage their children’s Instagram accounts. This is the process that Kim Kardashian chose with her daughter, 11-year-old North West. The latter has a Tik Tok account with his mother, but does not have the right to log in alone. Indeed, after falling out with Kanye West over their daughter’s use of social media, Kim Kardashian explained that it was only “under adult supervision” that the teenager used it. Now he is followed by no less than 19 million subscribers. Finally, other parents choose not to create accounts for their children, choosing instead to display them on their own profiles. A practice called “sharing” (a term made up of the words “share” meaning “to share” and “parenting” meaning rearing) Editor’s note), is criticized today. A bill was also introduced in 2023 by Renaissance MP Bruno Studer to “guarantee respect for children’s image rights” and punish abusive parents;
Source: Le Figaro
