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An unsubstantiated online theory has recently taken hold, claiming that family vloggers are fleeing Los Angeles to escape newly introduced California laws designed to protect children featured in online content. In recent years, several states have introduced new legislation aimed at protecting child influencers from exploitation. In September 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom, with support from former child star Demi Lovato, signed two key bills designed to ensure children and teenagers who perform in online content are protected from financial abuse. One of the most important bits of the new legislation establishes financial and legal protections for minors featured in monetized online content (i.e. child vloggers) by mandating that their parent or guardian set aside a percentage of their earnings in trust accounts. With the passing of the law, California became the third state in the country to legislate protections for influencer kids, joining Illinois and Minnesota. Attention has now shifted to influencers whose children feature heavily in their content, some of whom have made seemingly abrupt moves across the country. Videos speculating about the real reasons for these relocations have gone viral, racking up millions of views. But the influencers themselves insist the moves have nothing to do with Californias new laws. Over the past year, several high-profile family influencers have either relocated from California to Tennessee or announced plans to do so. This includes the LaBrant family, who have 12.8 million YouTube subscribers; TikToker Cecily Bauchmann, who has 2.2 million followers; and Brittany Xavier, who has 5.1 million followers on TikTok. I feel like thats a little suspicious, one TikTok creator posted. I wonder how many of those are a direct correlation to the fact that now they have to pay their children. All of the families have publicly denied the new California law influenced their move. Fast Company has reached out to the LaBrants, Bauchmann, and Xavier for comment but has not heard back as of publication. After users began flooding Xaviers social media posts with comments regarding this theory, the influencer took to TikTok to shut down the rumors. It has been a wild week on TikTok, she says into the camera as she does her makeup. She goes on to cite a mold issue in their rental home as the reason for their hasty relocation. The assumption that we moved to avoid paying our children is so laughable, she says. My income doesnt depend on if my kids are in my videos or not. But weve always made sure to set them up financially regardless. However, many in the comments remain unconvinced. “‘Found mold’ = laws changed, one person wrote. Another added: Brittany the likes and replies aren’t helping the cause.” Another theory is that influencers are leaving California due to its political leanings. Xavier herself hinted at political motivations when responding to a comment suggesting she wanted a red state”: CA leadership is a mess at the moment, they need help. Hoping here has competent leadership, we shall see.
Category:
E-Commerce
Trump wants to make English the official language of the U.S.and is using an executive order to deliver the action, White House officials tod CNBC on Friday. This marks the first time in the history of this country that it will have an official language. Trump’s order rescinds a 25-year-old directive from former President Clinton, which required federal agencies to provide services for those with limited English proficiency. According to a summary of the report shared with CNBC, agencies will not be forced to abandon their current policies. “Agencies will have flexibility to decide how and when to offer services in languages other than English to best serve the American people and fulfill their agency mission,” the summary states. However, the move will encourage “new Americans to adopt a national language that opens doors to greater opportunities. Trump’s latest order comes amid a swift crackdown on illegal immigration since he took office. Trump deployed additional troops to the U.S. southern border, suspended entry to the U.S. for all undocumented immigrants seeking asylum, and expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) authority. The administration has not only encouraged more deportations, but is allowing officers the power to conduct raids in areas that were previously deemed off-limits, such as schools, hospitals, even houses of worship. As the administration has been working to deport more undocumented immigrants, the numbers haven’t yet topped Biden’s deportation numbers. According to a recent Reuters report, Trump’s deportation numbers are averaging less than Biden’s monthly average during his last year in office. Trump deported 37,660 people during his first monthsubstantially less than the monthly average of 57,000 removals during Biden’s last year in office. Sources told NBC that Trump has expressed anger that deportations have been taking so long. And last week, amid chatter of the lower-than-anticipated numbers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Caleb Vitello was reassigned. English is by far the most common language in the U.S., but more than 350 other languages are spoken, according to USA.gov, a truth Trump has often lamented. “We have languages coming into our country. We dont have one instructor in our entire nation that can speak that language,” Trump said at the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). “These are languages, its the craziest thing, they have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. Its a very horrible thing.”
Category:
E-Commerce
Do you know how many pens are in the average American household? The answer is 114and Gonzalve Bich, CEO of Bic, the French manufacturing giant for pens, lighters, shaving razors, and more, is likely one of the few people in the world to know that. Thats because its his job. As the 46-year-old chief executive of the company that was originally founded by his grandfather in 1945, Bich also likely has intimate knowledge of how many disposable razors the typical American uses every year, and how many lighters we burn through as well. But hes also ready to hang it all up at a relatively young age. In December, Bich announced that he would step down by September, and make way for a new CEO to assume the companys reins. And while many business or political leaders are seemingly unwilling to retire, even at much more advanced agesPresident Trump is 78, President Biden was 82 when he left the White House, and Warren Buffett is 94, to name a fewBich, a relative spring chicken, is ready to focus his energy in other areas. From “sell more pens to “a human expression company” Bich tells Fast Company that he feels that age 46 sounded better to try something else and reinvent myself, adding, I did a lot, and I think that there are other opportunities Im equally excited about. I joined this business over 20 years ago as a family member and held a lot of different positions, he says. When I became CEO, I wanted to transform the business and needed to. Bich notes that when he assumed control of the company, nearly everything was trending in the wrong direction, and that interestingly enough, Bic never really had an overarching business strategyso, he set about implementing one, allowing that to be his legacy at the company. We never had a strategy. Every year, it was just grow, but there was no concerted plan to take the organization forward in terms of growth, Bich says. And that in terms of overall goals, he says Bic was merely looking to sell more pens, or open another factory. So, he decided to reimagine the companys verticals; and over the past several years, he was able to turn Bic from being a pen company to being a human expression company. That included strategic acquisitions in some surprising areas, such as the acquisition of Tangle Teezer, a hairbrush company, and Tattly, a temporary tattoo brand. Tattoos are an area that Bich is passionate about, and as Bic digs into the temporary tattoo space, it will offer an expanding range of offerings, including temporary tattoos that can last from a few hours to several weeks. Its that type of diversification thats helped put Bic in a better financial position and helped Bich become more comfortable with the idea of allowing the company to find a successor. Today, if I hit pause on the movie, Bic is a dynamic organization with people who are highly capable and a brand that is closer to consumers than ever, he says. Whats next Looking ahead, Bich says that he has his eye on a number of potential projects, but his immediate attention will turn closer to home. Specifically, Bich is gearing up for the launch of a foundation thats close to his heart; one that will support projects in and around local communities to help families with autistic childrenwith a focus not only on helping parents but siblings of those children too. Bich, a father of four, has an autistic child, and knows firsthand how difficult it can be for the entire family. I want to help families in our communities go through this differently, with support and structure, he says. But thats not all. I intend to also have professional activities beyond that, he says, though he remains mum on what, exactly, those could be for now. Looking back, though, Bich is bowing out at a time when his company is profitable, diverse, and growing. Im proud of our financial results; we get our investors and stakeholders a very healthy return, he says. The numbers speak for themselves: Bics latest earnings report, released February 19, showed sales and profitability increasing company-wide. As for whats next for the company, Bich says he plans to work with his successor for a smooth handoff, which should be completed in the fall. Succession is absolutely a part of business and a part of leadership, he says. As such, Bich says, he will pass the pen.
Category:
E-Commerce
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