By Journalist Sydney White (SE)
Senator Brooks brings a piece of legislation regarding minors modeling with more restrictions and parental watch. With a sweeping pass in the senate 17-0, this bill was quickly passed in the chamber, but left one big question circulating in everyone’s head: why aren’t there any rules regarding minors wearing intimate clothing, parental consent, or even requiring valid ID for proof of age and other important personal information that would be required of any other contract job.
Talking with Senator Brooks highlights the major importance of legally protecting children within the workforce as time and time again, takes away a child’s innocence and a chance at a normal life. Brooks had done extensive research yet struggled to find any sort of legislation on this recurring problem in both our state, other states and even at the federal level. Yet nothing has been found to address this concern. She proposes a starting point by protecting the young Oklahoman children first. Brooks wants to help kids going into careers behind the camera, but as of right now there is little, if any, legislation regarding kids in modeling, acting, performing or social media influencing.
Taking what Senator Brooks had mentioned and understanding what her legislation intends to do, I felt obliged to do an investigation regarding the dangers if this legislation remains unheard in the legitimate state senate, house or federal government.
Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment on social learning has proven through the Stanford study that children who see adults often imitate whatever behavior is displayed in front of them. The model industry being as competitive and rough as it is negatively affects kids’ mindsets at such an early stage.
If we do not make any legislative content in the future, kids will continue to struggle to leave the household and become successful on their own. With parental micromanaging the cash coming in, the low self confidence, the aggression and frustration from the sheer competitiveness that comes with being a child star (whether it be modeling, acting, performing, or various other in front of the camera careers), the downfall of these children will remain a severe issue and threat to their future.