TagMango Blog

Insights, playbooks, and stories for coaches and creators.

Free Speech For Creators Is A Myth?

There is a reason why you don’t see your favorite YouTubers weighing in on the most heated issues of the country. A majority of favorite Instagram influencers will never engage in public debate about cultural and social issues. Not in fear of sharing their stands, but from the fear of retribution.

TagMango

May 23, 2022

No Off Days

Creators use their personality as a product to garner new views and stack a career that’s largely dependent upon what they are up to. For a large part, social influencing is considered to be a harmless occupation with no real-life consequences. But becoming a public figure comes with a price.

Pitching your personality as a part of the deal has unmitigated consequences. Because you are now the product. And the product has to be flawless.

The Conundrum of Social Influence

Wielding massive influence over a largely unaware crowd can be consequential for people who do not want to engage in social movements due to a multitude of reasons, ranging from lack of interest, awareness, or the fear of being on the wrong side.

The Price of Free Speech

The Washington Post recently reported that A-list celebrities now largely seek to avoid getting real on social media and view Twitter in particular as a “high-risk, low-reward platform”. The politicized and highly charged discourse discourages people from personally engaging with the platform.

The Audience is the Supreme

The looming fear of being cancelled punctures the wheels of free speech before the creator even takes a flight. An entitled audience addicted to free content does not aim to be invested in a creator’s journey but will take full offense of their wrong stand.

How to Avoid The Pressure Ensued by Public Campaigns

Internet fame is fleeting and online audiences are deeply unforgiving. As a creator, understanding the impact of your voice and having a stand on issues is important. Here are four ways you can deal with the pressure:

1. Listen More, Speak Less

Before jumping to conclusions or taking sides, analyze the situation with an unbiased perspective and decide whether the stand you are taking is worth the strife or not.

2. Strengthen Your Inner Circle

A great way to have a prosperous digital life is to have a safety net that isn’t tied to IG impressions and YouTube Views.

3. Diversify Your Distribution Channels

Regardless of the social media platform you base your camp on, you are on borrowed land. It is important to maximize your reach and attract a new set of audience. You can also build a premium base with TagMango, a SaaS platform that allows you to share your expertise through workshops and courses.

4. Exercise Restraint

You don’t have to jump on every single issue that crosses your feed.

In conclusion,

When the cancel culture comes, it impacts more than intangibles like self-worth or confidence — it takes an axe to your public perception, security, reputation, prospects, and the very next paycheck. So the fear of cancellation is real, and the only way out is by having ownership of your online ventures.