Ruby Franke, a mother to 8, a Youtuber to some, and monster to everyone. Franke, a Youtuber convicted of repeated abuse to her children, is now incarcerated. Arrested on Aug. 30 2023, Franke released Youtube videos showcasing her life as a mother of 8, and repeatedly faced concerned comments asking whether or not her kids were okay. She was not really known as being a gentle parent, but rather a tough mom raising tough cookies. In this case it was found that she had ideas of “religious extremism” according to the Washington County (Utah) Attorney’s Office and apparently motivated her to tell her kids to get rid of their “sins” by adhering to these punishments.

“They were also prohibited from interacting with others and were hidden in the home when others came to visit. They were forced to do physical tasks like carrying loaded boxes up and down stairs and ‘sitting’ against a wall without a chair or stool for hours at a time. The children were also forced to do manual labor outdoors in the extreme summer heat without shoes or socks. They were similarly forced to stand outside, on a cement patio, in the summer heat for hours and even days. They were beaten, and the 12-year-old was bound hand and foot after a previous attempt at running away. Additionally, the children suffered emotional abuse to the extent that they came to believe that they deserved the abuse,” according to the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

It was the will of the 12-year-old child that led their abuser to be arrested. Thankfully the children are now out of their abuser’s hands and Franke has received up to 4-30 years in prison. The children (who are now older) talk about the horrendous punishment they had to go through while growing up, they speak to many new outlets, warning others of unethical parenting and abusive relationships. One of her kids wrote a book, another resorted to TikTok and talked about the relationship they went through. In the end, the question comes down to “When is harsh parenting taken it too far?”

Before I start writing, I just wanted to say that if you or anyone you know is in an abusive relationship, we will link a few resources at the bottom of the page. Moving on, I believe harsh parenting is, in general, an idea or principle that many parents use in order to discipline their kids. Many parents probably have their own idea of what that is, and no one is really right or wrong. I think it just depends on the way the parent was raised. I think that it could be defined as mentally abusive, and physically abusive.

I think it leans more to the mentally abusive side in my opinion since Ruby Franke abused her kids to the point where they believed they deserved it. It is possible that even the physical abuse played a part in it as well. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, “Traumatic childhood events can change the way a person’s brain and body work. Trauma can affect the person’s emotions, memory, thinking and sense of self.” They identify trauma as any type of physical, sexual and emotional abuse that affects a person negatively.

Many people deal with these issues and we don’t even know it. That’s why keeping an open mind when talking to others about relationships and mental health is important, also keeping a sense of compassion is important as well. Aside from the abuse, these kids were put in front of a camera most of their lives, so they really had to create a sort of facade that they were okay, when in fact, they were not. That’s one of the scary sides of Youtube, and any type of social media in general. There is always a dark side to it. 

https://www.thehotline.org/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=domestic_violence

← Domestic Violence Support National Hotline: Can call, text, chat with operator 24/7.

https://dmh.mo.gov/behavioral-health/treatment-services/specialized-programs/crisis-services#:~:text=988%20%2D%20The%20three%2Ddigit%20number,through%20call%2C%20text%20or%20chat. 

← Missouri Department of Mental Health: gives resources regarding mental health, drug addiction, and emotional distress.

988 ← You can call this number regarding any mental health, suicidal thoughts, and drug and alcohol addiction.

Thank you for taking the initiative to get help (if you need any)!