“Why We Love Watching Babies Fail” (Internetting) — The New York Times, 2018, 5:38 — https://youtu.be/95zvpgXMdhk

Some families record and broadcast nearly every waking moment of their lives. They are part of a new group of social media celebrities who rely on (illusionary) authenticity to attract millions of followers. This video turns a critical eye on the phenomenon of YouTubers who exploit their children for likes, shares, and subscribers. How “real” are these (public) family moments? What negative consequences can arise from a life consumed by impression management and emotional labor for followers? Should we regulate child streaming stars just like we do child film stars?

From the video’s description: YouTube family vlogs are remaking childhood itself to fit the algorithm. Here, cute videos are fine, but “baby fails” are even better.