New Jersey Proposes Law Requiring Parental Permission for Minors in Vlogs
TRENTON, NJ—New legislation in New Jersey could soon mandate parental permission for minors featured in compensated vlogs. The bill, drawing inspiration from similar Illinois legislation enacted on August 11, 2023, targets family members and caregivers who use minors in their vlogs for profit.
Under the proposed law, any vlog where a minor under 16 appears in compensated content must meet specific criteria to be considered as engaging the minor in work. These criteria include minors appearing in at least 30% of the video content over any 30-day period, and the content must meet viewership thresholds that trigger compensation.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that earnings from videos featuring minors must be placed in a trust account until they reach adulthood. The distribution of these funds is calculated based on the percentage of content featuring the minor, ensuring compensation aligns with their contribution.
The proposed regulation also includes exemptions for minors from certain state labor laws, such as working hour restrictions, when they meet the conditions set out in the bill. This move aims to protect young individuals involved in the growing field of digital content creation.