Virginia Senate Bill 840 (SB840), introduced in the 2025 Regular Session, aims to safeguard minors involved in online content creation by establishing financial and privacy protections. The bill outlines specific criteria for determining when a minor is engaged in content creation and imposes obligations on content creators to ensure the well-being of child participants. Read more: LegiScan
Key Provisions of SB840:
Trust Account for Earnings: Content creators who feature minors in their monetized online content are required to allocate a portion of the gross earnings to a trust account. This account is to be preserved for the child’s benefit and becomes accessible when the child reaches 18 years of age or is legally emancipated. Read more: LegiScan
Record-Keeping Requirements: The bill mandates that content creators maintain detailed records of the minor’s involvement in the content, including the duration and nature of their participation, as well as the financial compensation received. These records must be retained until the child turns 21 years old. Read more: LIS
Age Restrictions: SB840 prohibits children under the age of 14 from engaging in content creation work. This measure is designed to protect younger children from potential exploitation and to ensure their activities are age-appropriate. Read more: LegiScan
Content Removal Rights: The bill stipulates that any content containing the likeness of a child must be deleted and removed from online platforms by the individual who posted it upon request. This provision empowers minors with control over their digital footprint and personal privacy. Read more: LIS
By implementing these measures, SB840 seeks to address the financial exploitation and privacy concerns associated with minors’ participation in online content creation. The bill reflects a growing recognition of the need for legal frameworks to protect child influencers and content creators in the evolving digital landscape.
