Should Children/Families Be on Reality TV?

[Grand Koalafornian]

This is something I've been thinking about lately. Especially with what's happened with the Duggars, Jacob Roloff, Alanna "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, the Gosselins, etc. should children be on reality tv? It seems super exploitive to me. Not sure how I feel about the family/kid YouTube channels, either. Most of my communities online don't have a lot of parents on them, so I thought I'd ask here where it's pretty family-centric.

It's one thing for kids to act, but to have their actual lives/homes broadcast for everyone to see when they're too young to understand or consent to it just rubs me the wrong way. I would have hated if my childhood development and awkward moments were on tv or the internet for everyone to see. I'm not a parent, and don't plant to be one, but I've been a nanny, and I'd never want "my" kids exposed like that.

 

[Southernmiss]

This is something I've been thinking about lately. Especially with what's happened with the Duggars, Jacob Roloff, Alanna "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, the Gosselins, etc. should children be on reality tv? It seems super exploitive to me. Not sure how I feel about the family/kid YouTube channels, either. Most of my communities online don't have a lot of parents on them, so I thought I'd ask here where it's pretty family-centric.

It's one thing for kids to act, but to have their actual lives/homes broadcast for everyone to see when they're too young to understand or consent to it just rubs me the wrong way. I would have hated if my childhood development and awkward moments were on tv or the internet for everyone to see. I'm not a parent, and don't plant to be one, but I've been a nanny, and I'd never want "my" kids exposed like that.

We are a quiet, drama free family. Our lives are typical boring stuff.

Just growing up today gives kids enough to affect them without putting them on display with cameras and tv exposure and critics.

My kids, as adults, are now discussing their own realized human imperfections and idiosyncrasies. Can't imagine adding to that with external sources.

 

[NYCgrrl]

This is something I've been thinking about lately. Especially with what's happened with the Duggars, Jacob Roloff, Alanna "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, the Gosselins, etc. should children be on reality tv? It seems super exploitive to me. Not sure how I feel about the family/kid YouTube channels, either. Most of my communities online don't have a lot of parents on them, so I thought I'd ask here where it's pretty family-centric.

It's one thing for kids to act, but to have their actual lives/homes broadcast for everyone to see when they're too young to understand or consent to it just rubs me the wrong way. I would have hated if my childhood development and awkward moments were on tv or the internet for everyone to see. I'm not a parent, and don't plant to be one, but I've been a nanny, and I'd never want "my" kids exposed like that.

Doesn’t make a difference to me as long as it’s not my family members or I’m required to watch those type of shows.

 

[usnuzuloose]

If they are getting abused , no matter which type these camera people are just as guilty for letting it go on. I see other shows where there is abuse and allow it to continue.

 

[tvguy]

I blame PBS. Their 1973 series An American Family followed the Loud family. Ultimately the family fell apart. So no, I don't think children/families should be in reality shows, and I've felt that way for nearly 50 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_American_Family

 

[HeatherC]

I say no. Enough of the reality tv crap. How many more dysfunctional families/people do we need to see put themselves through a train wreck for a buck. I wish they would all go away.

 

[neverlandsky]

YES & NO

Yes: Despite the hate that The Kardashians/Jenners get, I think they've done it right. Kids are on camera very little and majority of the focus is all on the adults. RHONJ is also focuses on the adults and very little on the kids. These shows are like a 95% adults/5% kids. It's either a birthday party or kids are playing doing kid things in the background vs. being in the forefront.

No: Shows that are majority kid/family focused, Jon & Kate plus 8, The Duggars, Counting On, Wife Swap, Super Nanny, Outdaughtered, etc. Seems like kids are being exploited since they don't seem like they have/had much of a say and just about everything is based around the kids.

 

[Grand Koalafornian]

Doesn’t make a difference to me as long as it’s not my family members or I’m required to watch those type of shows.

I don’t watch them, either, but I do care if they’re harmful to the kids on them.

 

[Grand Koalafornian]

YES & NO

Yes: Despite the hate that The Kardashians/Jenners get, I think they've done it right. Kids are on camera very little and majority of the focus is all on the adults. RHONJ is also focuses on the adults and very little on the kids. These shows are like a 95% adults/5% kids. It's either a birthday party or kids are playing doing kid things in the background vs. being in the forefront.

No: Shows that are majority kid/family focused, Jon & Kate plus 8, The Duggars, Counting On, Wife Swap, Super Nanny, Outdaughtered, etc. Seems like kids are being exploited since they don't seem like they have/had much of a say and just about everything is based around the kids.

Interesting. I hadn’t thought about that. I’m not a fan of the Kardashians, but I’m glad they’re doing something right.

 

[prairie_girl]

I said yes with conditions. Should the kids be the main focus of the show? No, of course not. Could the kids be limited on how much they appear on camera? Sure.

Being on a show like teen mom is different than the family running a cupcake business out of their kitchen. One is about the kids, and one isn’t.

Would I want to be on a reality show? For the money, yes, but for the cameras and constant online trolls and cameras with you 24/7, HECK NO.

I don’t know how actual celebrities can see anything when the 100 camera flashes are going off in their face.

 

[mom2rb]

I think that there needs to be more safeguards in place. Are the children being paid separately or as a family? These kids could grow up and have nothing if the parents get all of the money.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think it can be a huge financial bonus in situations where it is a one-time thing. I think that full-schedule video series are by their nature exploitative, but I'm not sure about one-time "specials" or occasional short news features, as long as any money that is earned from the production company goes directly into trust for the children.

The one that I think of as being handled fairly well was the ABC ongoing check-ins with the McCaughey family. They would do a 15 minute segment on milestone occasions every few years, but that was it. The family got a lot of financial help due to the exposure of being featured on television, such as a donated home, college scholarships, medical attention from big-city specialists, etc. I thought they struck a decent balance between guarding their kids' interests and taking careful advantage of public curiousity about their situations to be able to provide some advantages that they otherwise could not afford.

 

[ashley0139]

I said yes with conditions. Should the kids be the main focus of the show? No, of course not. Could the kids be limited on how much they appear on camera? Sure.

Being on a show like teen mom is different than the family running a cupcake business out of their kitchen. One is about the kids, and one isn’t.

Would I want to be on a reality show? For the money, yes, but for the cameras and constant online trolls and cameras with you 24/7, HECK NO.

I don’t know how actual celebrities can see anything when the 100 camera flashes are going off in their face.

There's also a difference with a show where the kids appear on the show one time (Super Nanny, Wife Swap), and a show that follows a family for years at a time. I don't think kids appearing on a one time special is tearing the families apart. Being exposed to that life for years is a problem.

 

[AndreaA]

Heck no! I hate all of those reality shows from the family ones down to the absolutely horrific “Dance Moms” and kiddie pageant series.

Are there ANY of the family-type where the kids have escaped unscathed? I can’t think of any.

A news special like the one about the McCaughey family is different.

 

[Kitty 34]

Just wondering....Do reality kids have the same laws of protection as TV kids for example the stars of Young Sheldon?

 

[nicolita3]

Just wondering....Do reality kids have the same laws of protection as TV kids for example the stars of Young Sheldon?

Nope the parents get all the money and there's no law regarding the amount of time they can be filmed for.

 

[2letterwords]

One of my concerns is that kids don't understand the consequences it may have later in life. You see this issue a lot with youtube creators and bloggers who use their kids for content. These kids grow up and have no recourse when they choose to not be involved. It's a major consent issue in my eyes.

 

[ronandannette]

I think that there needs to be more safeguards in place. Are the children being paid separately or as a family? These kids could grow up and have nothing if the parents get all of the money.

We've mused many times on the Sister Wives thread about how/how much they get paid and nobody, to my recollection, has ever been able to come up with anything definite that is public information. Just based on what we see on that show of the lifestyles of the older kids that are now adults, it wouldn't seem that any of them had a big nest-egg of TV money handed over when they came of age.

There's also a difference with a show where the kids appear on the show one time (Super Nanny, Wife Swap), and a show that follows a family for years at a time. I don't think kids appearing on a one time special is tearing the families apart. Being exposed to that life for years is a problem.

Yes, it's a huge qualitative difference IMO. In today's digital era I suppose it could be embarrassing for them if they are "googled" by potential employers or whatnot but that couldn't have been predicted at the time. I do wonder how some of those brats with the clueless parents made out over time; the show was about 15 years ago so they'd all be in early-adulthood now.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I don’t watch them, either, but I do care if they’re harmful to the kids on them.

From what I understand the sexual abuse happened off camera so nothing can be done there by the viewers and if other types of aberrant behavior is shown on camera there are two responses:

Call the local authorities.
Stop watching it.

Just wondering....Do reality kids have the same laws of protection as TV kids for example the stars of Young Sheldon?

I doubt the income and school rules and regulations differ for reality shows as opposed to other shows. I mean what would be the basis for the difference?

 

[GreatLakes]

If you offered me a Million a day I wouldn't put my child on reality TV. I can't imagine what is missing in people's lives that makes them want to exploit their own children like many of these shows do.