“You’re crying because you got a D on your report card? Look at me. Look at the camera. Tell the internet why you’re failing.”
A leaked internal memo from a major social media company (obtained by The Intercept in 2024) noted: “Videos showing young females in distress have a 340% higher completion rate than the average parenting content. Recommendation systems will naturally amplify these signals.” “You’re crying because you got a D on your report card
This group argues that recording a crying child and posting it online is a legitimate, modern form of discipline. They point to the “lack of consequences” in contemporary childhood. They argue that embarrassment is a powerful teacher and that parents have the right to document “real life,” including the ugly moments. Tell the internet why you’re failing
“Would you allow your child’s teacher to tie them to a flagpole in the town square and let strangers throw tomatoes?” asks Rohan Mehta, founder of the Digital Dignity Project. “No. But that’s exactly what you’re doing when you post a crying video of your child. The town square is now global. The tomatoes are comments. And the scars are permanent.” Currently, the legal system is playing catch-up. In the United States, no federal law explicitly prohibits a parent from recording and sharing a video of their crying child, even if the child is begging them to stop. However, several states have begun to consider “exploitation” statutes. They argue that embarrassment is a powerful teacher