Since children have first been allowed to act, the paparazzi have followed them around their entire lives. As they grow up, we see the devastating effects of a lack of privacy.
The laws regarding child actors have changed a lot, especially since the turn of the century. At the beginning of child acting, lawmakers were unsure of how to guarantee the safety of the young actors, as well as give them access to the money they make from their films. Laws such as the Coogan Act were implemented in order to protect a child’s money until they were old enough to handle it.
The reason laws such as this were so difficult to implement is because it challenged who the money that was made by child actors really belonged to. Many people believe that the children should have full access to the money they made, and protect them from their parents who may try and take that money. Others say that many child actors are too young to fully understand and be able to manage their money.
This argument is one that makes sense to many people. They see the benefits and negatives of both sides. How can a child have full responsibility for their finances, especially with how much money they have. When it comes to money, many people can find a middle ground. It is a different story when it comes to the paparazzi.
How much freedom paparazzi have when it comes to celebrities has always been hotly debated, but it is especially prominent when it comes to child actors. When children are raised in the spotlight, they most often have little to no privacy. “How do you develop a healthy reaction to your body’s natural reaction if you don’t have a safe space?” is the question asked by Ann Berger, the psychology teacher at Pleasant Valley High School. As many of the younger child actors grow up, we begin to see the detrimental effects that come with having the critical eye of the public.
“With how often I see things about child stars on social media, they have to go through a lot of stress,” said Jake Coursey, a junior at Pleasant Valley high school. Many people learn about current child stars or the downfalls of previous child stars from magazines or the internet. People find interest in celebrities who had been talented actors in their youth, such as Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Amanda Bynes, the Olsen twins, and so many more.
Young children are considered the next generation in regards to the workforce, so it is extremely important to protect them and help them grow. There need to be stricter laws placed on the paparazzi to help child actors avoid growing up under a microscope.
