“Are We Turning Children Into Content Machines?”Sudha Murty’s Powerful Message Every Parent Needs to Hear

We are living in a world where babies have Instagram handles before they can walk and toddlers go viral before they can speak. Sudha Murty has stepped in with a wake-up call that every parent needs to hear.

Recently, Sudha Murty urged the government to create clear rules for how children appear on social media. Not to restrict creativity. Not to stop parents from celebrating their children. But to protect childhood itself. And she isn’t wrong.

When Did Children Become Content?

Scroll through any platform today and you will notice a strange trend. Children are no longer just children. They’ve become the face of brand deals or the cute factor parents use to boost engagement. And most of the time, these little ones have no idea what’s happening.

This is exactly what concerns Sudha Murty.

She says that many parents dress children a certain way, make them perform, or push them into influencer-like roles. And all for likes, visibility, and sometimes even money. Kids who should be playing outside, making messy crafts, or fighting over toys are instead filming take after take for the perfect reel.

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The Silent Damage No One Talks About

Sudha Murty points out something most people ignore - 'Children cannot give informed consent.'

A 3-year-old doesn’t understand privacy.
A 6-year-old doesn’t know what digital footprint means.
A 10-year-old cannot grasp what it means for their face, voice, habits, or emotions to live online forever.

Yet their images are shared publicly on platforms filled with strangers, algorithms, data trackers, and yes… even dangers.

Sudha Murty warns that this can impact:

• a child’s sense of self
• their confidence
• their emotional development
• their understanding of boundaries
• their experience of childhood

When every moment is recorded and posted, children grow up thinking they are always on display. That’s not childhood, that’s a stage.

“If There Are Rules for Child Actors, Why Not for Child Influencers?”

This is the heart of Sudha Murty’s argument.

We already have strict laws for children in movies and TV shows. Why?

To prevent exploitation and guarantee safety.

But on social media, where millions can watch, share, and misuse a child’s content. There are no clear rules.

She’s asking the government to step in before this becomes a much bigger problem.

Parents Aren’t the Villains — The System Needs Guidance

Sudha Murty isn’t blaming parents. In fact, she understands that parents aren’t intentionally exploiting their children. They’re just swept up in trends.

Social media has made sharing feel normal.
But without rules, the line between cute memory and unhealthy exposure gets blurry very fast.

Before You Post… Ask Yourself These 5 Questions

Next time you reach for that post button, ask:

1. Is this photo/video something my child would approve of when they’re older?
2. Am I posting this for memories or for attention?
3. Could this embarrass my child in the future?
4. Would I be okay if strangers downloaded, shared, or misused this?

Childhood Should Be Lived, Not Filmed

This is the core of Sudha Murty’s powerful appeal. Children deserve:

• messy hands
• scraped knees
• silly stories
• bad drawings
• loud play
• real friendships
• real experiences

Not rehearsed reels and camera-ready smiles.

Sudha Murty isn’t asking us to stop sharing entirely.
She’s asking us to protect childhood with the same sincerity we protect education, health, and safety.

And maybe, just maybe…
She’s asking us to put our phones down a little more often and hold our children a little tighter.