Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Approves Critical Financial Protections for Youth Content Creators

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee passed Senate Bill 764, the Child Content Creator Rights Act. The bill, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), would ensure content creators under 18 earn fair financial benefits from the use of their image.

“As the entertainment industry evolves, so too must our labor protections,” said Senator Padilla. “California is the leader of the world entertainment industry; we must step in to protect vulnerable child performers. The influencer economy continues to grow and it is crucial these children get fair compensation for their participation in this rapidly expanding market.”

According to Goldman Sachs Research, the influencer economy stood at roughly $250 billion in 2023 and is expected to nearly double that over the next five years to $480 billion. With the rise of social media platforms targeting short-form videos and the increased ease to monetize content, the barriers preventing aspiring content creators from entering the market have been removed, prompting a rise in those making content with the intent to monetize it.

Senate Bill 764 requires content creators that feature minors in at least 30% of their content, to set aside a proportionate percentage of their earnings in a trust for the minor to access when they reach adulthood. The legislation mirrors the landmark financial protections that California established with the Coogan’s Act in the 1930’s that went on to become the national standard to best safeguard the economic future of actors under 18. However, Coogan protections only extend to child performers under contract. As parents do not need to draft contracts to record or post videos of their family, children in these posts are not guaranteed access to the profits generated by their likeness and participation.

SB 764 passed by a vote of 11 to 0 and now moves to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. To read more about SB 764, click here.

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Steve Padilla represents the 18th Senate District, which includes the communities of Chula Vista, the Coachella Valley, Imperial Beach, the Imperial Valley, National City, and San Diego. Prior to his election to the Senate in 2022, Senator Padilla was the first person of color ever elected to city office in Chula Vista, the first Latino Mayor, and the first openly LGBT person to serve or be elected to city office. Website of Senator Steve Padilla: https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/