Kids Run the Show

A cautionary tale for a world in which social media has shattered the boundaries of intimacy.
The first time that Mélanie met Clara, she was stunned by Clara's sense of authority, and for her part, Clara was struck by Mélanie's pink, glittery nails, which shimmered in the dark. "She looks like a child," thought the first. "She looks like a doll," pondered the second.
These two women, both of the same generation and exposed to the same forms of media throughout their lives, could not be more different in adulthood. Mélanie is a social media superstar, broadcasting her children's daily lives on a family YouTube channel. Clara is a young police officer, assigned to the case after Mélanie's daughter Kimmy is abducted.
Traversing the Big Brother generation, the social media influencer generation, and right up to the 2030s, Delphine de Vigan offers a bone-chilling exposé of a world where everything is broadcasted and monetized, even family happiness.
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Community Reviews
3.5 stars. I liked the interesting social commentary that is KIDS RUN THE SHOW. It’s an imagining one how social media is going to affect society long term - especially children who grow up in the spotlight of their parents Instagram and YouTube accounts. The book ends in the year 2031 and the imagined future looks bleak, yet feels very, very real.
I know the characterization of one of our protagonists Clara as a police officer was quite clichéd and uninspired. Still I loved the progression of the events. Even though the mystery was resolved, it introduced another layer to the plot which in my opinion made the book feel more complete. Also Mélanie’s reflections on her past provided insights into her psyche and thoughts.