Massachusetts Senate Bill S144

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/27/25
• Refer: 2/27/25
• Refer: 3/24/25

Caption

Relating to protecting the interests of minor children featured on for-profit family vlogs

Impact

The bill, once enacted, would affect several facets of state law, particularly those governing minors and their rights regarding personal likenesses and earnings. It introduces the concept that any earnings generated from content featuring minors must be allocated into a trust, protecting the child's financial interests. This is a significant shift in the approach to minors' involvement in media and online platforms, aligning with ongoing discussions around child protections in the digital age.

Summary

Senate Bill S144 aims to protect the interests of minor children who are featured in for-profit family vlogs. This legislative proposal facilitates the creation of a new chapter in the General Laws specifically addressing the regulations around the usage of children's likenesses in monetized online content. The bill mandates that vloggers must compensate their minor children for their appearances in vlogs, ensuring that a portion of the earnings derived from such content is set aside in a trust until the child reaches the age of majority.

Contention

Notables points of contention surrounding S144 include concerns about the implications for content creators in terms of compliance and earning potential. Critics may argue that the requirements for compensation could discourage the creation of family-oriented content, as the financial burden shifts to the families involved. Additionally, the enforcement of this bill raises questions about how internet platforms will manage and monitor compliance, particularly for revenue-sharing agreements and the protection of minors' rights as outlined by the new law.