Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make a comparative assessment of the equity of labour laws for children (a) working in the film industry and (b) who are influencers making money from online posts.

A child performance licence is required for any live broadcast, including internet streaming, or a performance recorded with a view to broadcast or public exhibition. It does not matter whether or not the child is being paid for that performance or whether it is a professional or amateur. It is also required for any performance for which a charge is made, either for admission or otherwise. This does not extend to user generated content e.g. where a child or their family record themselves and share it on a website or social media.

If a child influencer was live streaming, then they should have a performance licence. Equally, if a child film star or their parents recorded them on set and shared it on their social media (even promotionally) then they would not. Both industries are subject to the same legislation in the same way. It is likely that child influencers are more likely to fall into the category of self/ family generated recorded content. This may not always be the case, particularly where the content is being sponsored by a third party, so each situation would need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.