Internet child modeling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Internet child modeling is a variation of child modeling in which the resulting photos or other works are displayed primarily (if not exclusively) on the Internet. This tends to take three forms:
- Child pornography that uses the Internet as a medium for publication and distribution.
- Erotic child modeling in which the children pose in suggestive apparel or positions, possibly including lingerie, bikini, or upskirt photos.
- Conventional photos in which the children are generally portrayed in child-appropriate clothing and activities. This is described below.
In the late 1990s, several photographers started sharing collections of conventional child photos on the Internet. These collections, usually called series, first appeared on newsgroups dedicated to pictures of children. The more prolific photographers soon developed web sites to host the more popular series. These sites generally avoided suggestive apparel and eroticism.
Practically all of these early series featured children in conventional childhood locations and situations, notably the Amanda and Lil' Amber series. The pioneering sites Joseph Paul Photography and Paul Jones Photography (later renamed PJCrew) began with photo series featuring family members, but their series soon took on the look of model shoots intended for advertisers of childrens' clothing. In both of those cases, the photographers hired neighborhood children to serve as models by telling them and their parents that the photographs were intended for fashion advertisements. In fact, the photographers' web sites generally made enough money so that other customers for the photographs were unnecessary.
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[edit] Child Modeling Web Sites
Almost all Internet child modeling centers around web sites that display model series or portfolios. The sites almost always present the children as fashion models for hire. In fact, all of a model's income typically comes from membership subscriptions to the web sites displaying their photos. Subscription prices ranged US$ 20-30 per month, or higher. In 2002, the PJCrew site was reported to bring in a net income of US$ 7,000 to 10,000 a month.
Occasionally a child modeling site would suggest a rationale for individuals to join, and these usually fell into two categories: advertising agencies and fan clubs. Under the advertising agency rationale, people would subscribe to the site if they were in the advertising business and needed to "scout out" potential models. Under the fan club rationale, "fans" of the models appearing on the site would pay to follow the career of favored models, much as a movie star fan might purchase a fan magazine. To some extent, there was an assumption that the fans of young models would be other young people.
Many believe that the sites are used exclusively for erotic stimulation. While this may explain some of the sites' commercial appeal, there appear to be other motivations as well. The tone and content of several on-line discussion groups that cater to child modeling site subscribers reflect an almost parental interest in the models' welfare. Moderators routinely ban participants who make lewd or even disrespectful comments about the child models. While the subscribers' interest in the models might not be easily explained in familiar ways, they do not generally appear to pose a threat to the models' safety. There have been no reports of Internet child models being stalked or harassed by customers, though they have been stalked by news organizations.
[edit] Risks of Internet Child Modeling
Internet child modeling clearly disturbs many members of the general public. Observers have identified several possible risks:
- The models could be molested by the photographers. While child molestation has certainly occurred in the context of child modeling, the reported cases have involved family members and not hired models. The photographers responsible for PJCrew and Joseph Paul Photography were both convicted of child molestation and the production of child porn, but both cases involved abuse of natural or adopted family members, not hired models. Newsgroup postings also alleged that the Amanda series abruptly stopped after the photographer, supposedly the child's uncle, was caught trying to molest one of the children posing for him.
- The models could be induced to pose nude or for child pornography. In the case of the 2004 Ukrainian child pornography raids in the Ukraine, children were hired to pose in clothing and then induced to remove their clothes and pose nude. A television movie Selling Innocence about Internet teen modeling included a plot element where a model was induced to pose nude.
- Child modeling web sites cater to pedophiles and that by itself places the children at risk. This is a rationale behind legislative attempts to ban child modeling sites. Some sites try to insulate children from such risks, and from controversy in their local community, by using pseudonyms and disguising the model's location.
In many ways, Internet child modeling is comparable to conventional modeling: the work is part-time, it pays well, and it carries a certain glamour. In both cases, children may be harassed by peers: classmates of the 1970s child model Lisanne Falk posted a photo of her modeling a bra on her school locker. Unlike conventional modeling, however, Internet child models may live anywhere in the world; the only requirement is proximity to a photographer willing to take photographs for the site.
[edit] Controversy
In July, 2001, Wired News published a story about child modeling web sites that described Lil' Amber, Jessi the Kid, and Tiffany Teen Model, which are websites operated by a web hosting company called Webe Web Corporation located in Florida. Webe Web is the oldest child modeling site service on the Internet.
In November, 2001, the NBC television station serving Miami, FL, ran a story entitled Selling Innocence. A reporter "went undercover" to contact the site operators and then tracked down Amber (which isn't her real name), the model featured in Lil' Amber at her family's farm in Palm Beach County. Amber's step mother, father, and brother refused to discuss Amber's modeling site, and asked them to leave. Following the publicity, Amber and the model Molli of Mollirama "retired" from Internet modeling. The news report also prompted Florida Congressman Mark Foley (R-Palm Beach County) to propose legislation banning child modeling web sites. In 2001, Webe Web placed an essay that responded to all the criticism on the Jessi the Kid site. Molli and Lil Amber are now modeling again. Molli returned in the early part of 2006 and Lil Amber returned in July 2006.
In April of 2003, a child model named Cindy appeared with her mother on The Oprah Winfrey Show [1] and discussed her experiences as an Internet child model.
In mid 2006, some credit card providers began to refuse to have any involvement with underage modeling sites.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- Betsy Cameron, Lisanne: A Young Model, 1979: Clarkson N. Potter.
- H.R. 1142, 109th Congress, 1st Session, Child Modeling Exploitation Prevention Act, March 8, 2005.
- Mike Brunker, "Legal child porn under fire" MSNBC report, March 28, 2002.
- Mike Brunker, "Young ‘model’ sites feel the heat: Porn, sexual exploitation charges leveled against 3 operators", MSNBC, July 11, 2002.
- The PJCrew Story.
- Julia Scheeres, "Girl Model Sites Crossing Line?", Wired News, July 23, 2001.
- Selling Innocence NBC 6 investigative report Part 1 November 8, 2001; Part 2 November 9, 2001.
- Selling Innocence NBC 6 followup: "Child Modeling Web Site Owner Held On Child Porn Charges; Congressmen Seeking Legislation To Prevent Child Exploitation On The Net" Posted April 18, 2002; updated May 17, 2002.
- Selling Innocence TV movie IMDB entry
- TotalBullshit.org An essay that responds to credit card companies that are stealing money from child modeling sites.
