Sudha Murty Highlights Risks in Child Influencer Culture, But Is Balance Possible?

Nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty has urged the Government of India to introduce a regulatory framework to monitor the portrayal of children on social media. Speaking during Zero Hour in Parliament, she highlighted the “commodification of children” in digital spaces and how the pressure to create online content can affect a child’s emotional and psychological development.

Sudha Murty Raises Call for Regulation of Child Influencers

Murty explained that children are often exposed to costumes, commercial setups and curated performances before they understand consent or consequence. She added that while social media has clear benefits, the rapid rise of child influencers and “mother influencers” demands oversight to ensure safety.

Calling children “our future,” Murty asked for guidelines similar to those implemented in France, where laws control how minors may be featured online. She noted that India has regulations for advertisements and films involving children, but social media remains largely unregulated.

Murty warned that unchecked visibility could lead to misuse of images and long-term psychological impact, adding, “Social media is like a knife, you can cut fruit, or you can cause harm.”

A Balanced Perspective: When Young Influencers Build Spaces Through Knowledge and Skill

While concerns exist around children being pushed into digital fame, several young creators in India have grown through their own abilities, often supported by structured learning, discipline or recognised talent. These child influencers have carved a place for themselves by sharing knowledge, storytelling and athletic skill. Their trajectories show how digital platforms can enable meaningful reach when used with guidance and care.

Below is an overview of three young creators who have built influence through talent rather than commercial pressure.

Paridhi Mangalampalli: A Young Voice of Indian Scriptures

At just nine years old, Paridhi Mangalampalli has emerged as a widely recognised young spiritual speaker and storyteller. Known for simplifying complex ideas from the Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and other Indian scriptures, she presents traditional wisdom in an accessible style for young audiences.

What She Does

Paridhi creates videos explaining devotional stories, philosophical ideas and moral lessons from ancient texts. One of her Bhagavad Gita–based videos went viral, getting millions of views, leading to wider recognition across digital platforms, cultural festivals and educational programs.

Achievements & Recognition

• Awarded the State Child Prodigy Award by the Ministry of Women & Child Development
• Honoured as a Young Scholar by the Central Sanskrit University
• Performs at cultural events, student induction programs and spiritual gatherings
• Often referred to as a “Voice of Bharatiya Sanskriti” for her clarity and depth

Her family describes her as curious, observant and grounded in spirituality from a young age. With more than 439K Instagram followers, Paridhi continues to focus on cultural storytelling rather than commercial promotion.

Pooja Bishnoi: India’s Young Athletic Prodigy

Hailing from a small village in Jodhpur district, 14-year-old Pooja Bishnoi has become one of India’s most promising child athletes. Known for her discipline and exceptional fitness, she is recognised nationwide for breaking early-age records.

What She Does

Pooja specialises in middle-distance running, 800m, 1500m and 3000m, and documents her training, fitness routines and competitions online and shares them along with tips and tricks for many athletic enthusiasts.

Achievements & Recognition

• Ran 3 km in 10:50 minutes at age 8, an Under-10 world record
• Multiple gold medals at state and national athletic events
• Broke the meet record in 3000m at the 2024 U-19 IPSC Tournament
• Became Asia’s first girl with six-pack abs at age eight
• Supported by the Virat Kohli Foundation for coaching and nutrition
• Recipient of the Iron Awards and Veer Durgadas Award

Her online presence reflects hard work, training and sportsmanship rather than entertainment-driven content. She aims to represent India at the Youth Olympics.

Zara Zyanna: A Young Actor Growing Through Performance

Zara Zyanna, a six-year-old actor from Warangal, Telangana, has gained recognition through her family’s content, which led to early work in films and television.

What She Does

She appears in regional cinema, web series and children’s content, supported by her family, who ensure a monitored and structured environment.

Achievements & Recognition

• Acted in the Disney+ Hotstar series November Story (2021)
• Played Lakshana in the Tamil film Vasco Da Gama (2024)
• Appeared as Khushi Verma in the Hindi action thriller Baby John
• Winner of the 2023 She Nakshatram Award
• Active in modelling projects for children’s fashion brands
• Enjoys drawing, dancing and caring for her pet cat

Her social media presence is managed by her parents, with a focus on acting updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses and personal interests rather than commercialised influencer content.

A Nuanced Digital Landscape

Sudha Murty’s concerns highlight the growing need for responsible digital exposure for children, especially at a time when social media can quickly turn minors into commercial figures without their awareness or consent. She pointed to the risks of overexposure, the loss of childhood innocence, and the possibility that images or videos may be misused online. Murty also warned that when children are pushed into content creation for financial gain, it may affect their psychology, limit their social development and reduce time for studies, sports and real-world interactions.

At the same time, young achievers like Paridhi, Pooja and Zara show another side of the digital space, one where online platforms can amplify genuine talent when families provide guidance, ethics and structure. 

Their journeys demonstrate how digital reach can support knowledge-sharing, athletic growth and artistic expression without crossing into exploitation.