A young father is struggling to handle his daughter’s growing online fame as a social media influencer. On Sunday, the 48-year-old widower sought advice on how to manage his 15-year-old daughter’s success in a post on Reddit’s AmITheA– –.
“My (48M) daughter (15F) has built a following on social media and has started receiving requests from brands to promote their products. I have no idea what this world of online influencers is like, but I appreciate that she is creating her content,” he said.
The original poster (OP) continued, explaining that his daughter had found this to be a helpful outlet, especially after “we went through a family tragedy when my first wife passed away three years ago.”
He emphasized his support for his daughter, stating, “I believe her commitment to her streams had a significant positive impact on her during difficult times in her life.”
The father mentioned that he fulfills his part by “going over the terms and conditions of contracts and such.”
However, he was surprised to discover that some of these transactions “involve SIGNIFICANT income.”
To ensure that his daughter has access to her income when she turns 18, he had initially told her that he would save everything for her. He believed she should be able to sustain herself with her income, just like his other two children, as long as she was still young and unable to make more informed financial decisions.
The OP explained that although this arrangement initially worked well, his daughter has been “asking me for more of her income” as she becomes more aware of what she is earning.
She pointed out that he allows his other child to keep the money she earns from babysitting jobs and spend it. He found it unfair to compare this to the significant income his other daughter is currently making. Still, he acknowledged that he had allowed it because it was a reasonable amount.
In response, the father suggested that his daughter “consider an average of what her sister was making while babysitting, what her brother was earning while working in a fast-food restaurant, or what most teenagers realistically make at this stage of life.”
He proposed that he would agree to take a comparable amount from her income each month to supplement her expenses, but the majority of it would still be saved until she turns 18. He asked if he was wrong, and she felt he wasn’t taking her proposal seriously.
Comments from others debated whether the OP was handling the situation appropriately.
One commenter argued that it’s her money, and if it were regular income, he wouldn’t have the right to take it and set it aside for her. They suggested that they might need a lawyer.
In response, the OP added more context, explaining that, as a minor, she can’t legally enter into agreements, so he has to be involved. He clarified that he would only step in if the amount of money involved was significantly higher than what he believed a teenager could handle. But neither she nor he wants her to miss out on these opportunities.
He stressed that the funds are immediately deposited into his account, and he tracks every transaction made to the account created for her. He even involves her in discussions with a financial advisor.
The OP asserted that he hasn’t used any of the money for himself or for the benefit of their household. She made the choice to store it not only for security but also to maintain her composure and stability.
He argued that he doesn’t believe a teenager should have access to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars because it would give someone who is still learning too much autonomy and could lead to bad financial habits in the future.
Other commenters agreed with the OP, emphasizing that giving his daughter control over a significant sum of money on her eighteenth birthday could be problematic, especially considering the grief she has experienced. They suggested that they should work on mending their relationship to prevent her from making potentially harmful financial decisions.
One commenter recommended enrolling in financial education courses together, as all children should be aware of long-term investment and income management. They suggested that the daughter is on her way to becoming a successful entrepreneur and should be supported in launching her career, with the other children also benefiting from financial education.