The 21st Show

Illinois becomes the first state to protect young content creators, meet the teen who made it happen

Produced by Jose Zepeda & Kennedy Vincent
 
Shreya Nallamothu looks at her phone in Bloomington, Ill., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Lawmakers made Illinois the first in the country to create protections for child social media influencers. Nallamothu, 15, raised her concerns to Illinois state Sen. David Koehler of Peoria, who then set the legislation in motion.

Shreya Nallamothu looks at her phone in Bloomington, Ill., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Lawmakers made Illinois the first in the country to create protections for child social media influencers. Nallamothu, 15, raised her concerns to Illinois state Sen. David Koehler of Peoria, who then set the legislation in motion. AP Photo/Claire Savage

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Lawmakers made Illinois the first in the country to create protections for child social media influencers.Shreya Nallamothu,15, raised her concerns to Illinois state Sen. David Koehler of Peoria, who then set the legislation in motion. We talked with both of them. Additionally, we heard from a teenage influencer who shared her firsthand experience as a content creator in the digital landscape, shedding light on the significance of fair compensation for minors in the realm of social media.

Guests:

State Sen. Dave Koehler
Democrat of Peoria (46th District)

Shreya Nallamothu
Thought of the idea for the law

Sophia Castiblanco
Teen content creator and influencer