Shari Franke discusses how family vlogging creates lasting trauma for children.

The trauma inflicted by Ruby Franke on her children will have lasting consequences for them.

On Sunday, December 14, Shari Franke, Ruby's oldest child, discussed her family's history of creating content for the "8 Passengers" YouTube channel on the "Sunday Sports Club" podcast.

Shari, who is 22, discussed how working as content creators from a young age affected her interactions with her siblings, especially her 20-year-old brother, Chad. (Ruby, 43, shares four other children with her ex-husband, Kevin Franke; Kevin regained custody of the children after Ruby's child abuse conviction and their subsequent divorce.)

Shari explained to host Allison Kuch that the practice of "turning kids into content" also impacts "our family relationships offline." She elaborated, "It affected my relationship with my brother for a while. For example, we couldn't stand next to each other in pictures or exchange hugs. While we joke about it today, for some time, those feelings were very real."

Ruby Franke's 11-year-old daughter discusses the 'trauma' caused by her family's vlogging history.

Shari revealed that there were times when public speculation about her and Chad's relationship caused distrust between them.

"I had a hospital visit for a health issue and posted a picture about it, which led to numerous comments asking, 'Oh, are you having your brother's abortion? From his baby.' As a 17-year-old, or really anyone, that is horrific," she stated. "These incidents impacted our off-camera relationship. I believe these experiences accumulated over time... Recognizing that my 13-year-old self will always be available online motivated me to prevent other children from enduring similar experiences."

Shari, author of The House of My Mother (a book detailing the abuse her family suffered under Ruby's care), emphasized that social media followers cannot truly know what occurs privately within families they watch online.

Shari asserted, "You will never see clips of parents shouting at their children because they won't broadcast that. It will never be shown. Therefore, there's no way to verify that similar events to what my family experienced aren't happening off-camera to other people. I believe a common misconception is when people view my situation and think, 'Your mom was just unstable. For everyone else creating family content, that's not the problem. Your mother was the unique issue.' While that certainly worsened things, family vlogging was still the underlying cause."

Later in the broadcast, Shari suggested that while many families claim they begin vlogging to share their experiences, the primary motivation is often the financial gain.

Shari stated: "Most family vloggers would likely claim, 'We started because we want to share our family and preserve our memories.' If that were truly the case, they could use a private account to achieve that goal. Therefore, at some point, financial considerations become a factor, and denying that means lying to oneself."

YouTube Personality Ruby Franke Detained for Alleged Abuse: Key Points to Understand.

Shari also noted that parents making decisions for their children bear the responsibility of understanding the long-term impacts of online exposure.

Regarding children who give consent to be recorded, Shari commented: "Why would they want that? Because they receive money, exciting vacations, and new products. Kids aren't grasping the long-term consequences of that. It's up to the parent to be able to say, 'I understand this seems enjoyable, but you cannot fully comprehend how this might impact you as an adult.'"

In 2023, the Franke family became central to a major scandal when Ruby and her associate Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested on numerous counts of aggravated child abuse. The arrests followed Ruby’s youngest son, then 12, escaping Hildebrandt’s Utah residence in August to seek assistance from a neighbor. Law enforcement observed that the boy was severely malnourished and bound with duct tape on his wrists and ankles. His 10-year-old sister was found in a similar condition.

Both Ruby and Hildebrandt entered guilty pleas and received four consecutive prison sentences for inflicting "physical torture" on the children. They are presently serving their sentences.

Shari and Chad had already left the family home when these events occurred, but Shari had repeatedly tried contacting Child Protective Services (CPS) and law enforcement in an attempt to shield her younger siblings, as she was increasingly concerned by Ruby's actions.

Two years on, she is advocating for legislation to protect child influencers while simultaneously cautioning people to reconsider supporting online family content.

Regarding her family's circumstances, Shari stated, "I hold only [Ruby] and Jodi responsible for their actions. I do not blame the audience. However, I do hold people accountable for continuing to support family content creators. This is something they have direct control over—their own consumption habits."

For information on reporting child abuse, refer to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Welfare Information Gateway for relevant contact numbers for each state.