Ones to Watch: They’re not regular moms, they’re cool moms

Curated by Megan Collins, GenZ expert, Cultural Insights Analyst and contributor to the MTD blog.

“Mommy bloggers” have been an essential part of the internet ecosystem and a way for women to create careers that also allowed them to spend time with their children. Millions of moms have consumed, loved and found community in this content and the forum it provides its audience. However, like all things online there is a dark side and concerns over children’s safety and privacy has led to a reckoning of content featuring kids. Creators like Maia Knight, a TikToker and young single mom of two, are being pressured into being more careful with their children’s privacy. In addition to concerns about predators & privacy, there’s also questions around the ethics around children participating in vlogging. A recent Teen Vogue piece dove into this topic with a first hand account from an anonymous teen who’s part of a family that vlogs as their means of income. It’s a no win situation and many parents, even famous ones like Gigi Hadid, are choosing to conceal their child from the public altogether. We wanted to highlight 3 mom creators who are getting creative and finding a middle ground that allows them to create content centered around themselves, motherhood, and so much more without forcing their kids into internet fame. 

Jessica Woo (Food)

She packs a mean lunch 

If you’ve spent more than a few minutes on foodie TikTok, you’ve likely come across Jessica Woo’s work. The self described “bento box queen” has become a mainstay on the app for the adorable (and thoughtful) lunches she packs her kids. From Easter themed pancakes to floral fruit sandwiches her feed is full of cute bites. Now that she’s established she does share more content featuring her kids. However, her strategy is notably not dependent on their participation. 

Sari Shryack (Art)

The portrait of a mother creatively sharenting 

Sari Shryack is an Austin, Texas-based oil and acrylic painter. Her incredibly vibrant colorful works range from landscapes to still lifes to portraits to memes and her signature disco balls. While Sari is a hands-on mother, you wouldn't know it just from looking at her content. She talks about motherhood, parenting, reparetning, and her own childhood is a theme she explores in her work. But, you’re more likely to see a still life of her kids than you are their actual face.

Julie & Camilla (Vlog)

Wholesome moms-to-be we’re rooting for

Julie & Camilla are a married creator duo who have won over the TikTok fyp sharing their love story and fertility journey. Expertly walking the line between being authentic and raw with prioritizing personal boundaries, the duo have recently taken a step back from creating as often as Julie, who posts most of their vlog-style content, deals with pregnancy side effects. That said, the couple did recently make it clear that they had already decided they would not be sharing their child’s face on social media. I am excited to see how they find ways to continue to gracefully tow that line if they choose to continue vlogging when the baby arrives.