VIRAL MOMENT

The Resilient Jenkins and Parenting on Camera

Unpacking the Internet’s Debate on Poverty, Family Vlogging, and Child Safety

If you’ve been on my corner of TikTok this past week, you’ve probably come across the viral, controversial family known as “The Resilient Jenkins” or @jenkinsresiliencecrew. They’re a family of six (soon to be seven), living in a one-bedroom apartment, and while some viewers initially sympathized with their financial struggles, deeper issues in how they handle their situation have sparked intense debate.

The family’s content, which prominently features their young children, raised a few red flags:

• Child Safety Concerns: The children’s faces appear in videos discussing sensitive topics, such as poverty, which could embarrass them at school and expose them to online safety risks.
• Living Arrangements: While the parents sleep in the bedroom on a comfortable bed, the kids sleep on mattress toppers on the floor in the living room and kitchen — a setup close to the front door, heightening safety concerns.
• Neglectful Conditions: The children reportedly lack proper beds due to a “punishment,” struggle with chronic lice, and have moldy clothing.
• Risky Choices: The pregnant…