Part 4/11:
Similarly, PewDiePie entered the conversation about YouTube's underbelly when he raised flags about Ryan’s World in 2017, a channel featuring a young child engaging in toy reviews and activities. He commented on the unsettling nature of child exploitation often seen in the entertainment industry. His insights revealed a vulnerability regarding the child's autonomy and questioned the legitimacy of view counts and engagement, likening Ryan’s predetermined success to a troubling trend among child stars.
Fast forward to the present, PewDiePie’s warnings have come under scrutiny again as Ryan's channel faced increasing criticism for parental exploitation, proving once more that the influencer landscape is often fraught with ethical concerns.