Ruby Franke's Daughter, 11, Speaks Out About Her ‘Ruined’ Childhood Tied to Mom's Vlogging: ‘I Am Stuck with the Trauma’

Mar. 15, 2025

Stating that she initially “thought nothing was wrong” with taking part in her family’s YouTube videos, and how she thought she was “happy,” the child, whose identity has not been shared, explained that she “really wasn’t," according toThe Salt Lake Tribune.

“When I started getting older, I realized the YouTube channel had ruined my childhood,” she continued. “But at least I got some money, right? Oh, right, I actually didn’t, because my mom withdrew all of it in 2023.”

Added the child, “I worked hard for that money. I acted like someone I wasn’t in front of the camera, and I earned that money. But I feel like my mom used me for money.”

Moms of Truth/ Instagram

Noting that she understands “more than anyone … the horrible situation that a lot of kids are in right now,” the preteen continued, “I know I am stuck with the trauma of YouTube."

“Even now, I can barely make friends, because my whole life I was the center of … attention," she added. “But now, without even realizing it, I seek attention from others, or I feel like they don’t like me. Then those people think I’m mean.”

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The child’s 16-year-old sister echoed similar sentiments in her own statement that was also read during the hearing, in which she said she hopes the potential new bill would “prevent other kids from having to go through the pain of realizing that the compensation for years worth of time and effort is suddenly gone.”

“As kids, you don’t realize what you’re subjected to, really.” the teen said. “You’re selling your life, your privacy, your body and stories to the entire world. And as a child, you’re involuntarily giving up all of that. You’re selling your childhood.”

“Though there is no amount of money that can make up for that loss, the least that can be done now is making sure the child is getting paid for her work and has the right to remove it and walk away if she wants to,” she added.

In January, she told PEOPLE she “witnessed the damage of what happens when your life is put online” and believes that “there’s no ethical way to do it.”

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com