Blurred boundaries" between prominent YouTube stars and their viewers can put young people at risk, a leading children's charity has warned.
Emily Cherry, of the NSPCC, said YouTubers had a "responsibility" to make sure relationships with young fans were appropriate.
Claims of inappropriate behaviour have been made against a small number of internet personalities.
Google-owned YouTube told the BBC that educating fans and creators was key.
Ms Cherry warned that online stars have huge power and influence on young people and the way they think about the real world.
"One child told me that checking their social media accounts and what their favourite YouTube stars are up to was as important to them as eating," she told BBC Radio 5 live.