Shari Franke, the oldest daughter of Ruby Franke, the controversial ex-family vlogger, has braved her way into publicly sharing the traumatic abuses she went through at the hands of her mother. In a series of emotional interviews and her memoir, The House of My Mother, Shari has spoken out about the dark underbelly of family vlogging, which she says is a toxic, exploitative practice that stole her childhood innocence.
This comes after Ruby Franke’s conviction for child abuse shocked her followers and raised serious concerns about the dangers of monetizing children’s lives on social media.
Ruby Franke, known for her popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, once seemed to embody the ideal, picture-perfect family life. The channel, which showcased the family’s day-to-day activities, attracted millions of subscribers and turned the Franke family into a household name.
However, behind the camera, things were far from perfect. In August 2023, Ruby and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were arrested after a disturbing incident involving Shari’s younger brother. The emaciated 12-year-old had run away from Hildebrandt’s home with duct tape on his wrists and ankles. But it didn’t take long before similar signs of abuse in the other children pointed authorities to find what would soon prove to be years of physical and emotional torment.
Franke was sentenced to four consecutive one- to 15-year prison terms, which will run concurrently for a total of 30 years. Although she pleaded guilty, still showing regret, the scars of their upbringing have left Shari and her siblings really bruised. Now 21, Shari has spoken about having mixed feelings regarding her mom’s apology, saying that she doesn’t think Ruby fully understands how much harm she has caused.
The psychological and emotional abuse, coupled with the influence of Hildebrandt, left lasting damage on the children; Shari recalls some of the most traumatic moments in her memoir.
Shari’s revelations go beyond the physical abuse she suffered. She delves into the psychological manipulation, including the toxic relationship between Ruby and Hildebrandt, whom she describes as a “cult leader.” Shari reveals how her mother’s extreme beliefs shaped their upbringing and contributed to an environment where affection and care were conditional on performance.
It wasn’t just the parents who suffered from these manipulations—the children were forced into the role of “employees” in their own homes. Family vlogging, Shari argues, turned her and her siblings into products for public consumption, stripping them of their autonomy and privacy.
The impact of vlogging on the Franke family was profound.
As children, they were expected to perform for the camera, often at great personal cost. Shari recalls how embarrassing or painful moments were filmed and shared with millions of viewers. These events were monetized, with the children sometimes receiving rewards, like shopping trips or small amounts of money, for participating in videos. In her testimony before the Utah legislature, Shari boldly declared, “There is no such thing as a moral or ethical family vlogger,” highlighting the ethical dilemma inherent in profiting from children’s labor and emotional vulnerability.
Shari’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of family vlogging, which has become an increasingly popular genre on platforms like YouTube. Parents who use their children as the stars of their videos may be unaware of the long-term psychological consequences for their offspring. According to Shari, the stress of living under constant scrutiny and the pressure to perform for an audience was not only damaging but also contributed to the breakdown of their family dynamic. The children were paid in ways that often felt like bribery, and the vacations and gifts they received were seen as compensation for their labor rather than acts of love or kindness.
In addition to speaking out about her own experiences, Shari has become an advocate for greater protection for children involved in social media. She has called for stricter laws to ensure that young influencers are not exploited or put in dangerous situations. Her advocacy work includes testifying before lawmakers in Utah, where she has shared her story to highlight the urgent need for reform. By sharing the details of her traumatic past, Shari hopes to spark a broader conversation about the ethics of family vlogging and the need for better child protection laws.
As Shari continues her journey of healing and advocacy, her story has resonated with many who have witnessed the rise and fall of the Franke family. The public’s fascination with the “8 Passengers” channel made Ruby Franke a beloved figure in the parenting community, but it also raised concerns about the consequences of sharing personal and intimate family moments for profit. Shari’s candid discussions about her abuse and her efforts to raise awareness reflect a powerful desire for change, both within her family and within the broader culture of online content creation.
Shari’s voice is becoming a crucial part of the conversation about child safety in the digital age. As her memoir is released and a documentary about her family’s story is set to premiere, her message about the dangers of vlogging will reach even more people. She says she has much more healing to do, but telling her story has given her some mastery over her past—some hope that someone else suffered in silence.
While the story of the Franke family is deeply tragic, it serves as a reminder to society of the ethics surrounding social media fame and the protection of vulnerable children in the digital age. In her advocacy, Shari speaks not only for herself but for the many other children who might be facing similar exploitation behind closed doors.
