Thanksgiving was supposed to be a cheerful day for Amanda Davila and her family. Then it suddenly turned into a nightmare. While she was celebrating, she discovered that a full-grown man had taken an embarrassing video made by her 12-year-old son and then poked fun at him online.
“Coach’s kid” was to be one of the lies he told about her son to open a world of online bullying. Amanda told him repeatedly that the video needed to be removed. He merely shrugged it off and scoffed, saying, “Take it up with Instagram”.
Things scaled beyond that point by bringing in some anonymous messages targeting her family. An occasion to connect family with thanks turned into harassment and the exploitation into online abuse. Amanda wished to show how really hurtful those things can be for families when adults use kids’ content in order to gain views.
Kids Online Exploitation Call-out
Amanda posted her ordeal on Facebook. She then shared a screenshot of the TikTok account that mocked her son with her story. Within her post, Amanda detailed how the man bragged about his 47 Division I scholarships and his NFL dad while using her child’s creativity for attention.
She called it out directly. This is someone who pretends to be a role model, yet chose to make fun of a 12-year-old for online clout. People should report the video and the page, she requested:
Hating on a 12-year-old is giving, insecure, and so many other things that are better left unsaid. Feel free to report the video and his page to all of the grown people who understand this is disgusting.
It became an internet hubbub. Much emotional feedback poured in. By one comment:
Wow, this is disappointing from a grown man. 🤦🏻♀️ Will be reporting, hopefully he takes it down.
Others even asked if the situation could be illegal:
Isn’t this exploiting a child? Shouldn’t the police be involved?
This indicates that genuine damage can be caused by adults misusing kids’ content online, because then families can get tense, and bullying can happen to kids just because somebody wanted more views. I have seen this in my own community, and it is never just “online drama”. It is real effects on real people. You may also be interested in: The Man Who Nearly Killed Her Baby Is Walking Free Soon and This Mom Says No One Cares
FAQ
Is it illegal to use a child’s content online?
In some cases, using a child’s photo or capture for purposes of profiting or gaining public attention possibly falls under child exploitation laws.
What to do if a child’s content is misused?
Content should be reported on the platform; if such behavior continues, everything should be documented, and authorities should be contacted.
How do families keep their kids safe online?
Reduce the number of people who see personal videos posted publicly, set up privacy, talk to the child about safety online, and establish safe practices.
