'We had nobody in our corner': Kids cut off contact with parents after 10 years of them being a ‘vlog family’, claiming parents had taken away their childhood

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    "I can't forgive them for taking away my privacy" <PLAY REC MENU HOM
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    My parents were family vloggers. It ruined my life.
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    I (23f) was raised by parents who family vlogged. They began vlogging in 2013, almost by accident as a video of my brother went viral. It was something I disliked from the
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    beginning as I was a shy child and that didn't fit in with what my parents wanted from me and my siblings. I want to share my story to raise awareness but please don't try and
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    guess who me/my family are as it will start a fight with my parents I'm not in a position to deal with yet. At the peak of their 'fame', my parents had around two million
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    subscribers. The main demographic was mainly adult men, and now as an adult I realize that their content was catered towards these men. I was one of five girls, all a year apart in age,
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    and those five years were an absolute goldmine for my parents. Period videos, getting first bos, having first kisses, all a massive hit with middle aged creepy men.
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    We eventually ended up being homeschooled so that we didn't have any external distractions and we weren't allowed to make friends unless they were also part of family
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    vlogging channels. Our parents only posted good things. On camera it looked like our family was perfect when in reality my dad was ak sing my mom, they were arguing constantly and my dad ended up
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    having an affair. The channel ended when my mom found out and they divorced, which nobody online knows. They blew through the money on drinking, ds and vacations they
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    went on without us. I barely have a relationship with my parents because I can't forgive them for taking my privacy away from me. Please feel free to ask any questions you have
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    CyberArwen1980 18h ago And what about your siblings?do they have relationship with your parents? Did they apologize or aknowledge what they did was wrong?
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    imonlineforever OP 18h ago • My siblings also no longer have a relationship with my parents. My youngest sister struggles with it the most. My mom has seemed regretful when it's convenient for her. Last time I spoke to my dad his only regret was that it ended
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    irinaselena 18h ago I'm really sorry to hear about what you went through. Sharing your story can be empowering, but make sure to protect your own well-being first. Seeking therapy might also help you process these experiences.
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    imonlineforever OP • 18h ago I'm in therapy, thank you
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    Rachel_92x • 18h ago I'm sorry that you had to go through this. When I'm watching videos online and one of those family bloggers pop up, I'll admit sometimes I might watch it, but I always wonder about the kids, and
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    how the constant exposure to millions does to them, if they're happy, etc. I never considered the fact that some may not even be able to make friends normally. I'm glad you shared this, it gave a different
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    perceptive and also confirmed some of my worries on it. I'm sorry that you went through this and hope you're doing better now.
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    imonlineforever OP 18h ago Stop watching it, you're contributing to their exploitation whether its intentional or not.
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    . ThrowawayQueen_52 18h ago Awful. I'm so sorry. Do you think that your parents were aware how the content was being consumed by adult men? Like, did they lean into this knowingly or were they in denial? (Sorry I hope my question in clear, not sure how to ask it respectfully)
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    imonlineforever OP • 18h ago They were aware, they checked the demographics of people who were watching all the time
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    • Groundbreaking Photo4 18h ago You should totally try make money off doing a series exposing the truth of family bloggers. Make money off their backs unwillingly. Just deserts.
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    imonlineforever OP • 18h ago I don't care for anymore, I just want a peaceful life
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    baguettelord 17h ago Do you ever revisit the videos? Can you describe what it is like to watch them now, as an adult?
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    imonlineforever OP • 17h ago They feel haunted, thats the only way to describe it.
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    Informal_Ad_764 • 17h ago OP I'm sorry if someone else has asked this but are you and any of your siblings still close or do you have a relationship with all of them or any of them?
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    imonlineforever OP 16h ago We're all still really close, I see them all at least twice a week
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    CyberArwen1980 17h ago One more question if it doesnt bother you and will leave it here...did your parents remarried and have more kids?if they did have more kids,do they treat them the same way?exposing them to media?
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    imonlineforever OP • 16h ago Neither of them are remarried, they still see each other and think nobody knows
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    rabbitinredlounge 17h ago Did they ever ask if you wanted to be filmed or posted online? Either way it's wrong, but I've seen some family vloggers have the rationale they make the choice for their child.
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    imonlineforever OP • 16h ago Never asked
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    Cabbage_Patch_Itch 17h ago How did your extended family feel about these decisions? So sorry for the loss of your childhood.
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    imonlineforever OP • 16h ago They loved the money as much as my parents did. We had nobody in our corner

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