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The inclusion of child YouTube sensation Muhammad Shiraz in Waseem Badami’s Ramazan transmission Shan e Ramazan has sparked a mix of celebration and criticism online. While some may view it as a harmless addition to the show’s entertainment value, others have raised concerns about the “exploitation of child stars” for ratings and profit.

Hailing from Ghursay in Gilgit-Baltistan, a small village of 2,000 people perched on the foothills of Siachen, Shiraz is a five-year-old vlogger who uploads his daily activities to YouTube, showcasing “raw village life”. Within a month, his channel has made him into a celebrity, with his fan following traversing borders. A first grader, Shiraz takes his viewers on a journey through the picturesque northern region while introducing them to local festivals and celebrations.

Be it for morning shows or Ramazan transmissions, the trend of including children in entertainment programmes has raised concerns about the impact of early exposure to fame on children’s well-being. It has also raised ethical questions about the purpose of a child being on these shows in the first place.

Children on shows like Shan e Ramzan and Jeeto Pakistan are usually seen engaging in banter with the host or other adult contestants, and in the latter’s case, gracing the set in costumes with goodies as part of the game show.

While it may be ‘cute’ to see children on these shows, it doesn’t really make for a great environment for children. They’re encouraged to act out and say outrageous things for the sake of views and laughs and they’re appreciated — until audiences decide they’re no longer that funny and begin bullying them online instead.

Actor Mishi Khan drew attention to the potential long-term consequences of thrusting children into the limelight through these shows, citing the case of Ahmed Shah.

In response to this, Badami clarified during the live transmission of Shan e Ramazan on Tuesday that child stars are treated like family members on his set. He emphasised the channel management’s commitment to the well-being of children, asserting that they are treated with care and their education and health is prioritised over their appearance in the shows.

However, despite these assurances, the underlying issue of exploiting children for entertainment remains.

The case of Shah serves as a testament to the pitfalls of child stars participating in such transmissions. Shah rose to fame overnight after a viral video — “Peeche toh dekho” — catapulted him into the spotlight. Yet, the fame was quickly followed by criticism and scrutiny in 2021 after he appeared on Jeeto Pakistan, with many questioning his ‘achievements’ — given the general perception is that anyone being called on a TV show or asked to participate in it is being honoured for something.

While the same criticism might not be directed toward Shiraz, there is no stopping the hateful and often spiteful comments that are inevitably posted on social media. And although it is valid to question channels for their decision to include children for ratings, misplaced hate directed towards these children will likely be detrimental to their mental health.

When grown adults struggle with nasty comments on social media, we can’t imagine how children will be able to deal with them.

As for Badami’s clarification — that the show “[obtained] consent from Shiraz’s parents before onboarding him” — is concerned, it needs to be understood that while obtaining consent is important, it is only the first and most basic of steps. To start with, it needs to be ensured that the parents’ decision is not unduly influenced or uninformed — have they been made aware of the consequences of their child being on the show? Are they basing their judgement solely on the assumption that the exposure may be good for their child’s future prospects in media?

And while someone like Shiraz may be trusted to run his own YouTube channel in the security of his hometown under the supervision of his parents, the same can’t be said about being on set, technically at work alongside grown adults. Therefore, the concerns expressed by fans and Khan are not entirely unfounded.

A while ago, a video from the set of Imran Ashraf’s comedy show Mazaq Raat also went viral in which he was seen taking the consent of a child’s mother before hugging the little girl. The act of taking consent from a child’s parent before touching them should always be encouraged and this event started a conversation — albeit a small one — on the importance of consent when it comes to children.

While it’s great that Ashraf asked for consent, it needs to be taken into consideration that not many parents would refuse a celebrity asking to show affection to their child, especially when put under the spotlight on air.

The same concept applies here — do the parents of the children included in Ramazan transmissions realise that once the glitz and glamour fade, they will have their children’s faces splashed across the internet for everyone to see? In an age where you can’t escape your digital footprint, it’s a scary thing for a child to be broadcast online.

Ultimately, the responsibility lies with both media producers and audiences. Media outlets must prioritise ethical standards and consider the well-being of their youngest participants, while audiences must demand responsible and respectful programming.