Little influencers, big audiences: From funny reels to sharing the day’s learnings, how kids are ruling social media

Shivanya Trivedi (1.5 M followers), managed by father Omprakash Trivedi

From finding excuses for not going to school to their routine banter that makes us go aww, this dad-daughter duo is simply enjoying their moment in the sun (or should we say…social media?).

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Omprakash Trivedi (@sia_3vedi)

Omprakash Trivedi, who had always dreamt of being a singer, shared about how he saw the spark in his daughter Shivanya, now 5. “Sia is a blessed baby. She has this natural, innate talent of being adorable. She is really intelligent and picks up concepts very fast. While I created the account long back when she was just born, one of the videos made six months ago made her quite popular,” Trivedi told the indianexpress.com.

He said he often “recreates” incidents from their daily life when “they are better looking” and “presentable”. “As Sia loves to talk, we often have so many ideas to share,” he added.

Trivedi, who is enjoying their current fame, wants them to continue doing what they do and bring more laurels to their family, which originally hails from Rajasthan. They are currently settled in Bengaluru.

On whether they are worried about overexposure, Trivedi said, “I’m a little worried about it, but not that much because I know that in the future, this will boom as content creation value is increasing drastically. And I also don’t force Sia to follow my instructions to make reels. I only record what she speaks, and that is what people are loving.”

Shravani Singh (692k followers), managed by mother Deepali Singh

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Deepali Singh (@shravanix29)

According to Deepali Singh, her daughter Shravani is a “stress buster” who gives her enough “reasons to laugh,” which describes their close bond. Here’s a glimpse into their video.

Hanaya Jain (563k followers), managed by mother Sapana Jain

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hanaya, Arjun, Sapana & Pratik Jain (@hanayaandmom)

Hanaya, a 6-year-old, has been popular for her screen presence while showcasing the family’s lifestyle, parenting experiences, travel, and fun activities.

Aadhya Sharma (173k followers), managed by parents Nitanshu and Mansi Sharma

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Aadhya Sharma (@aadushaaa)

Aadhya’s playful interactions with her parents, along with her wit on camera, are a sure-shot heart stealer.

Guluna (1.9 million followers), managed by Asim Kamal

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by عاصم کمال (@iasimkamal)

Then there is Asim Kamal, a digital creator and social media influencer, who often shares his banter with his daughter, Guluna, who has captivated the audience with her quirky responses and reactions. Their father-daughter chats are a must-watch.

Hriday Dherange (167k followers), managed by parents Kavita and Parag Dherange

View this post on Instagram

AgniV (1 million followers), managed by father Vinoth Sankar and mother Nishitha G Kotian

Agniv, a child artist and TEDx speaker, is described as a prodigy in his Instagram bio. The 7-year-old appears to have an all-round, mature personality as he answers questions about life, learning, and spirituality with ease. Agniv’s father, Vinoth Sankar, told indianexpress.com that as parents who have been “unschooling” their child for 2.5 years, they introduced him to the world of reels when they felt that he wanted to discuss his learnings, DIYs, or talk about his day.

These videos gradually began receiving praise for their content, which was different from the usual “children dancing” videos on social media, said Sankar, an IT entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu who currently lives in Bengaluru.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by AgniV (@agniv_2018)

Agniv only engages with digital content when his parents ask him to take a look at the video or reel before they post it. “After that, he has no clue about its likes or shares or anything. That is our way of keeping the balance,” said Sankar.

As we appreciate and acknowledge these children’s screen presence, reach, followers, and the wit they display while inspiring many others, we also reached out to an expert to understand the behavioural shift regarding social media exposure at an early age.

What has caused this rise in social media ‘stars’ aged 3-7?

Psychotherapist and life coach Delnna shared that parents are seeking belonging and validation. “Modern parenting can be lonely. When a video goes viral, the likes and comments act as instant reassurance. It tells parents they are doing something right. Social approval substitutes emotional support,” she said.

Social media has become a new kind of scrapbook. “Earlier generations captured childhood in albums and diaries. Today’s parents capture it in reels. It feels modern, creative and efficient. Except this version is public, not private,” Delnna said.

Children are naturally expressive, she explained, and many love performing. “They mimic, sing, act, and improvise. Cameras feel like fun, not pressure. Most parents start casually. But a viral video quickly turns ‘cute moments’ into ‘content strategy’.”

Parents see opportunity, too. “Brand deals, visibility, income, quicker recognition. Many believe they are giving their children a head start in an attention-driven world,” she said.

Now every child sees influencers as usual, Delnna added. “Fame feels accessible, not aspirational. Parents are riding the same wave.”

Is this trend here to stay? “Absolutely. But it needs boundaries. Digital childhood is not going away. What will matter is how mindfully parents handle it,” she said. When children grow up with a camera constantly watching, they develop a heightened awareness of being “seen”. According to the psychotherapist, this changes emotional development in subtle ways:

– They learn early to perform instead of simply expressing.
– They adapt their behaviour based on reactions.
– They associate approval with attention.
– They internalise the idea that every moment must be documented.
– They struggle to differentiate between absolute joy and performed joy.

For some, this builds confidence and communication skills. For others, it creates pressure, people-pleasing tendencies, and anxiety about making mistakes.

Healthy guidelines all families should consider:

-Create private time that is truly private. “Children need moments where they are not watched, recorded or evaluated. This protects spontaneity, imagination and emotional independence,” said Delnna.

-Never let content dictate the child’s mood. “If a child is tired, uninterested or unwilling, the camera must stop. Consent matters, even for a five-year-old.”

-Do not attach identity to performance. “Help your child understand that they are loved for who they are, not for how many views they get,” she said.

-Protect them from overexposure. “Share selectively. Too much visibility too young can interfere with a child’s sense of self and safety.”

-Have honest check-ins as the child grows. “At ages 5 and 7, children start forming their own identity. Ask them what they enjoy and what they don’t. Let them evolve,” Delnna added.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.