u/d1g1t4ld00m

just copying something here that I also posted over in r/cubscouts

I'm writing this as a frustrated pack parent and the husband of a Cubmaster.

We just went through a whole ordeal where Scouting America connected with a social media influencer and hired them to join our pack and post online about "an authentic Scout experience." They were to be allowed to attend our meetings, held inside a school, and film their experiences with their family.

I have no umbrage with any child wanting to join Scouts. Every child deserves to have a wonderful experience and should feel welcome and included. However, we weren't even given an option.

Pack leadership was simply sent an email from our council saying this person had signed up, that they were to be given an "A+ experience," and that they would be allowed to film what can be very personal moments. Leadership was told this was an exciting opportunity and that they should be excited about how much exposure the pack would receive.

Come to find out, the influencer's manager had found the opportunity with Scouts. Once they signed the deal, they were told what to sign up for and purchase. The child had no real interest in Scouts. It was simply a joint marketing and influencer campaign between the child's parents and the council.

Nobody asked if it was okay for our children to be filmed. Nobody asked if it was okay for an unvetted film crew to be at our Scout meetings, let alone inside the school where those meetings are held.

Up front, we as parents were told that if we didn't want our children to appear in the videos, we had to make sure they stayed out of view of the camera.

That was the biggest issue for me. There was no choice. Just send out a message and expect everyone to get in line.

This is a small pack in a rural community. We parent volunteers didn't sign up to become unpaid participants in an influencer's job making money. We didn't sign up to have our children posted online for millions of followers.

I take my child's privacy online extremely seriously. Every social media post I make involving my child is private or shared only with direct family. My child wasn't even given a choice about whether they wanted their image posted online.

I can't believe our regional council could take such an abhorrent position when it comes to disregarding the online safety and privacy of Scouts.

Scouting is supposed to be about children learning and growing through honesty, responsibility, self-reliance, service, and stewardship of our planet. It isn't supposed to be about using children as props for online marketing and making money.

There is a reason Scouting America has guidance regarding social media and online safety, and that guidance is both direct and strict.

I have no intention of saying which influencer or which council was involved. I don't want to badmouth anyone specifically because that helps no one.

The only reason I'm posting this is so that other parents and Scout leaders don't find themselves in a similar position.

If you feel as I do, advocate for your Scouts. Their privacy, safety, and ability to simply be kids should matter, regardless of what your council or Scouting America thinks is best for them.

I'm writing this as a frustrated pack parent and the husband of a Cubmaster.

We just went through a whole ordeal where Scouting America connected with a social media influencer and hired them to join our pack and post online about "an authentic Scout experience." They were to be allowed to attend our meetings, held inside a school, and film their experiences with their family.

I have no umbrage with any child wanting to join Scouts. Every child deserves to have a wonderful experience and should feel welcome and included. However, we weren't even given an option.

Pack leadership was simply sent an email from our council saying this person had signed up, that they were to be given an "A+ experience," and that they would be allowed to film what can be very personal moments. Leadership was told this was an exciting opportunity and that they should be excited about how much exposure the pack would receive.

Come to find out, the influencer's manager had found the opportunity with Scouts. Once they signed the deal, they were told what to sign up for and purchase. The child had no real interest in Scouts. It was simply a joint marketing and influencer campaign between the child's parents and the council.

Nobody asked if it was okay for our children to be filmed. Nobody asked if it was okay for an unvetted film crew to be at our Scout meetings, let alone inside the school where those meetings are held.

Up front, we as parents were told that if we didn't want our children to appear in the videos, we had to make sure they stayed out of view of the camera.

That was the biggest issue for me. There was no choice. Just send out a message and expect everyone to get in line.

This is a small pack in a rural community. We parent volunteers didn't sign up to become unpaid participants in an influencer's job making money. We didn't sign up to have our children posted online for millions of followers.

I take my child's privacy online extremely seriously. Every social media post I make involving my child is private or shared only with direct family. My child wasn't even given a choice about whether they wanted their image posted online.

I can't believe our regional council could take such an abhorrent position when it comes to disregarding the online safety and privacy of Scouts.

Scouting is supposed to be about children learning and growing through honesty, responsibility, self-reliance, service, and stewardship of our planet. It isn't supposed to be about using children as props for online marketing and making money.

There is a reason Scouting America has guidance regarding social media and online safety, and that guidance is both direct and strict.

I have no intention of saying which influencer or which council was involved. I don't want to badmouth anyone specifically because that helps no one.

The only reason I'm posting this is so that other parents and Scout leaders don't find themselves in a similar position.

If you feel as I do, advocate for your Scouts. Their privacy, safety, and ability to simply be kids should matter, regardless of what your council or Scouting America thinks is best for them.