Child Influencers

How Children Become Entangled with Social Media Fame

Crystal Abidin (Curtin University)

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Polity Press
27 November 2025

Media studies; Age groups: children; Digital lifestyle

Social media is proliferating with influencers, but despite their prevalence and the extensive body of scholarship, there is no comprehensive book that frames the historical and contemporary phenomenon of child influencers.

Drawing on original empirical ethnographic fieldwork and case studies from Asia Pacific and beyond, and spanning various digital platforms (e.g. blogs, fora, social media, messaging platforms), this book looks at the emergence of child influencers and online fame more generally. Crystal Abidin, a pioneering scholar in this field, discusses key historical milestones, scandals, and the social and cultural contexts that have led to ordinary children becoming famous online, and how changing public discourse has resulted in important pivots in the ways we perceive them. The book addresses and challenges some of the oft quoted moral panics against the visibility of children on social media and gives voice and agency to the children, their parents and guardians, and the agents and managers who have been striving to improve the child influencer market through their everyday practices and community norms. Child Influencers is illuminating reading for anyone who wants to understand the phenomena of children and online fame, and why they have proliferated so quickly in society.

By: Crystal Abidin (Curtin University)
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
ISBN: 9781509568031
ISBN 10: 1509568034
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 27 November 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Preface Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: Mummy Bloggers Chapter 2: Micro-microcelebrity Chapter 3: Family Influencers Chapter 4: Child Influencers Chapter 5: KidTok Chapter 6: Meme Celebrities Chapter 7: Viral Stars Chapter 8: Variety Stars Chapter 9: Factories Chapter 10: Ground Zero Conclusion References

Crystal Abidin is Professor of Internet Studies at Curtin University.