This story was originally published on Passionfruit.
In the past year, we have truly seen the fall of the family vlogger empire. What was once considered a wholesome and lucrative endeavor on YouTube has been stained with controversies, allegations, and revelations that could not be remedied with even the most heartfelt of apology videos. Channels which were one considered leaders in the family vlogging genre, such as The ACE Family and SacconeJolys, both announced their intentions to shut up shop, taking their kids and their paychecks off the internet for good—and it doesn’t seem like many will miss them.
The fatigue around family vloggers is the result of changing trends and increased concern over kids being shown on the internet. It’s easy to forget that the internet is still in its fetal stages, and that less than 20 years ago, when the internet was a largely-unregulated free-for-all, the idea of YouTubers and family vloggers were a huge novelty. These days, however, the content creator industry is more cutthroat and competitive than ever. This bloated industry, coupled with our enhanced understanding about the dangers of the internet, has led us to look at the world of family vlogging more critically.
