A Guide to Parenting a Social Media Star

What happens when your kid makes more money than you?

Internet personality Zach Clayton attends the '2017 Billboard Music Awards' And ELLE Present Women In Music At YouTube Space LA at YouTube Space LA on May 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.  (Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Internet personality Zach Clayton attends the '2017 Billboard Music Awards' And ELLE Present Women In Music At YouTube Space LA at YouTube Space LA on May 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Rich Fury/Getty Images)

The world of teen social media stardom is vast and growing, and The Atlantic investigates the roles parents play in their children’s fame. Social media being what it is, parents of popular Instagrammers or YouTubers are often blindsided by the level of fame achieved by their kids. Unlike as in Hollywood, there are no contracts to be signed or auditions to attend. The kids, in fact, can become stars without their parents ever knowing much about what they do. With sponsored content, advertising, and brand partnerships offering big payouts, it’s more possible than ever for kids to make serious money by posting online. The parents of these young stars are left to navigate their children’s fame without any precedent.

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