Tennessee lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 1469, which extends child labor protections to minors involved in social media content creation and influencer activities. The bill, which has cleared both chambers (Senate 29-2 on March 19, 2026, and House 92-0 with one present but not voting on April 2 or shortly after) and now awaits Governor Bill Lee’s signature, defines when a minor under 18 is considered engaged in compensated content creation. This occurs if, over the prior 12 months, at least 30% of a creator’s videos in a 30-day period prominently feature the minor’s likeness, name, or photo, and the creator meets updated monetary thresholds (actual compensation of at least 10¢ per view or $15,000 total in the prior year).

Key provisions include a prohibition on children under 14 appearing in monetized online videos, with content creators or parents/guardians facing a $2,000 civil penalty per violation (payable to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development). For minors aged 14–17, the bill allows them to create and publish their own content while retaining 100% of the earnings. However, when an adult creator’s compensated videos feature such minors (meeting the thresholds), the adult must deposit a portion of the gross earnings—calculated based on the minor’s share of content time—into a trust account held by a qualified financial institution. The funds become accessible to the minor at age 18 (or upon emancipation), in line with the Tennessee Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. Content creators must also maintain detailed records of the minor’s involvement, compensation, and trust deposits until the minor turns 21, and make those records accessible to the minor.

Additional protections allow minors (or former minors) aged 14 and older to request permanent deletion of videos containing their likeness; failure to comply within a reasonable period (no more than 30 days) can lead to civil action with potential damages, attorney fees, and costs. The bill also prohibits knowingly producing or distributing visual depictions of minors intended for sexual gratification or response where the creator benefits financially, with civil remedies available to the depicted minor (liability aligned with federal law and certain exemptions for law enforcement, good-faith reporting, legal proceedings, and platforms unless they actively solicit or predominantly distribute such content). Social media platforms that knowingly host monetized content by minors must develop and regularly reassess a risk-based strategy to mitigate exploitation risks, particularly around sexualization, and provide clear, research-informed information on content policies and minor protections.

Incidental appearances in videos of public events (such as concerts, competitions, or sporting events) are exempt from the definition of content creation work. Waivers of these protections are void, and the bill’s remedies are cumulative with existing laws. If enacted, the measure aims to prevent exploitation of child influencers while ensuring fair compensation and long-term safeguards for those involved in monetized online content.