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Those children are known as “influencers” because the videos,
known as vlogs, are intended to generate interest in things like
products and services or social and fashion trends. Vlogs that
get enough views on platforms like YouTube, Facebook and TikTok
can generate substantial revenue through things like
advertising, partnerships with the platform or subscription
fees.
Senate Bill 1782 was introduced by Democratic Sens. David
Koehler, of Peoria, and Linda Holmes, of Aurora, but it
underwent significant amendments before passing the Senate.
Koehler said if the bill is signed into law, Illinois would be
the first state in the nation to enact such legislation.
The final version would provide that if a minor is featured in
at least 30 percent of a vlogger’s revenue-generating video
during a 30-day period, then the minor is entitled to a share of
the revenue. That money would have to be set aside in a trust
fund that the minor could access after they turn 18.
It would also require the vlogger to report periodically to the
Illinois Department of Labor the names and ages of any minors
engaged in the work of vlogging, the number of vlogs that
generated compensation, and the number of minutes each minor was
featured in the vlogs. It would also give minors the right to
sue if a vlogger knowingly or recklessly fails to set aside the
minor’s earnings in a trust account.
The bill passed out of the Senate 56-0 and will head next to the
House for consideration.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
news service covering state government. It is distributed to
more than 400 newspapers statewide, as well as hundreds of radio
and TV stations. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press
Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
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