Laws may need to be strengthened to crack down on the exploitation of child influencers, a senior Labour MP has warned.

Chi Onwurah, chair of the Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, said parts of the Online Safety Act — which only passed in October 2023 — could already be “obsolete or inadequate” in tackling the new realities of social media work.

Experts have flagged major gaps in legal protections for children who earn money through brand collaborations online, compared to existing protections for child actors and models.

This lack of regulation has reportedly led to worrying situations, with some children being used to advertise products — including posing in their underwear — on social media platforms, according to expert claims.

The calls for reform come as social media influencing continues to grow as a lucrative industry, with children gaining massive followings and signing lucrative brand deals from an early age.

Campaigners are now urging the government to treat child influencers with the same care and oversight as child performers in more traditional industries, with many warning that without swift action, young content creators could be left open to exploitation and harm.

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