Family Vlogging's Dark Side Exposed in New Doc

Hulu's documentary 'Devil in the Family' offers a sensitive yet chilling look into the abuse perpetrated by Ruby Franke, the matriarch of the '8 Passengers' YouTube family. What appeared to be a picture-perfect life online was a facade for severe mistreatment of her children. The documentary utilizes behind-the-scenes footage to reveal the harsh punishments Ruby inflicted, shattering the illusion of influencer perfection and exposing the inherent exploitation within the family vlogging industry.

The film critically examines how the monetization of children's lives for social media can transform parenting into a means of control. It features direct testimony from Ruby's eldest children, Shari and Chad Franke, who candidly share their experiences with abuse. Kevin Franke, Ruby's ex-husband, also contributes, expressing shame for his inaction. Importantly, the documentary carefully obscures the identities of the younger children, avoiding the sensationalism often found in true crime narratives.