TikTok sensation shares lavish life and branded content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Products & Purchases
a lot
Charli is very wealthy and often displays lavish acts of materialism (sending someone to Paris for the day to buy designer shoe's for her sister's birthday). As an influencer, Charli also has lots of brand deals and promotes many of her products (clothes, makeup, fragrances, etc.) through sponsored videos. The YouTube platform plays ads throughout channel videos and not all ads are age appropriate.
Positive Role Models
a little
Charli is humble, gracious and a likable personality whose charm is connected to her relatability. Despite positive traits, there's been controversy surrounding Charli's honesty and authenticity. Charli's claim to fame was doing the renegade dance on TikTok, earning her millions of followers and brand deals, which overshadowed Jalaiah Harmon, the Black creator who actually created the dance, but didn't receive the same attention or fame. Since this incident, Charli has made sure to credit original creators in all TikTok trends she uses for her content. Some of her videos portray her as arrogant and entitled. She's open about sharing different parts of her life as an ever-evolving teenager. She's sometimes highly focused on her looks and beauty.
Positive Messages
a little
The message of staying true to self is implied throughout the series. Although Charli is famous, she comes across as grateful and kind. While this is an underlying theme, Charli never explicitly talks about the importance of these qualities and seems to surround herself with influencers who don't necessarily share the same positive traits. Overall, there are mixed messages surrounding who she portrays and what she surrounds herself with (lavish trips, controversial influencers, over the top shopping etc.).
Diverse Representations
a little
Charli creates some content with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) creators like Avani Gregg and Markell Washington. She also features creators from the LGBTQ+ community like James Charles. Creators from underrepresented communities are often presented in a one-dimensional manner. They're portrayed as Charli's "friends" in curated and unnatural scenarios and are seen as providing entertainment without really developing their presence. While Charli's fame comes from recreating Tik Tok trends that were originally created by BIPOC creators, her channel doesn't represent or support anything related to BIPOC culture or causes other than popular dances, famous influencers and fashion trends.
Parents need to know that Charli D'Amelio'sYouTube channel follows the overnight TikTok sensation as she vlogs about her life. Videos feature curated collaborations that include trends and tutorials. Despite her extravagant lifestyle, Charli comes across as humble, timid and kind. Because of her easy-going personality, many tweens and teens who curate their own social media may feel the same fame and notoriety is attainable. Charli features some BIPOC creators like Avani Gregg and Markell Washington, as well as creators from the LGBTQ+ community like James Charles in her videos. However, there's been controversy over how she gained her fame, since it was based off of a dance created by Black dancer and creator Jalaiah Harmon. Charli has since made sure to credit original creators in all TikTok trends she uses for her content. Charli isn't shy about displaying her wealth in her videos. She shares shopping trips in Paris as well as lavish gifts and experiences with her viewers. Her content often promotes her countless brand deals and sponsored videos about her products that could encourage her viewers to purchase related products. Also, due to the nature of the You Tube platform, viewers are subject to additional ads that may not be age appropriate. Her TikTok fame alongside her YouTube channel lead to her family's Hulu series The D'Amelio Show.
Honestly this content is not good for any age group. She is ignorant and inconsiderate of the fact people outside her lifestyle don't have what her and her family have. The last straw was making fun of Walmart employees. Girl if you're so great give us your money and lifestyle and you work a full week at Walmart. Some of us have no choice. I've seen you and your family do a lot of ignorant stuff but that sent me over the edge. I hope you guys lose it all and have to get real jobs so we can make fun of you.
What’s It About?
CHARLI D'AMELIO's YouTube channel follows the TikTok star's life with her family and friends. It features her lavish lifestyle intertwined with typical (but not so typical) occurrences like making ginger bread houses with her equally famous influencer friends. She shares a glimpse into some of her personal struggles, like having to have surgery for her perpetually broken nose, while also flexing her new celebrity lifestyle. It definitely features less dancing than her TikTok, but is full of intertwined sponsored ads and brand deals. Charli also shares a playlist of her experience on Dancing with the Stars. Her TikTok fame alongside her YouTube channel lead to her family's Hulu series The D'Amelio Show.
Charli's channel is most likely to be entertaining for the tween to teen demographic. Because Charli D'Amelio is an ordinary teenage girl with an extraordinary life, she comes across as relatable to her viewers. Her appeal is that she makes the influencer dream feel accessible, which could be inspiring for some young people, but worrisome for adults who feel their tweens and teens already spend more than enough time on social media.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Charli D'Amelio rising to fame from doing dances that were created by BIPOC creators was problematic. Why is it important to credit the original creator when using their work in any format (dances, writing, music, etc.)?
Why do you think some aspiring influencers become rich and famous and others don't? Do you create content to gain followers or to share value? What's the difference?
Many popular YouTube and TikTok influencers start off at a younger age when they're navigating an impressionable part of life and making mistakes in front of the world. Families can talk about how to think critically about their teen's favorite YouTube stars and how they display their life on the platform.
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
