'Are they they clowns who crowd funded for a new engine?' the response was when a Tasmanian Facebook group was alerted of the arrival of a travel 'influencer' couple. 'Yeah' came the response. 'I should crowd fund for a new diff' - cue guffaws and more bitter criticisms of these Youtubers with a 100k following and lots of Patreon subscribers that help fund their round the world trip. People like them are often painted as fame hungry, self centred, shameless opportunists which profit from the oversharing attention culture and getting quick cash for collabs with brands. But it's not the whole picture. I think sometimes we're too hard on them, and don't consider the value they bring, the work that goes into their content that we so eagerly consume, and how the media world has changed enormously.
I definitely get the outrage at the Youtubers. I'm guilty of wondering why they can't pay for it themselves, or how it's fair I'm slogging at a teaching job whilst they ask for money from hardworking Australians. To many, contributing to someone’s travel funds feels unjustified, as if they'e part of the generation that expects things handed to them on a platter. But this outrage is also an example of how we are very fast to judge, and don't think about the reality of creating content that brings value to our lives.
But I'm also guilty of consuming their content - fascinated by their travels in South America or their trek to Cape York. Critiques often forget they are slamming the very content creators that they enjoy. We live in a reality where Youtube is often our first port of call for entertainment, whether it's DIY videos on how to crochet or an hour long documentary on travelling through Mongolia on horseback. Many of these travel videos in particular are self funded, and it's only the very best of them and the hardest working that get paid enough on Youtube to warrant continuing their endeavours. Just like indepedent filmmakers, they're often operating on tight budgets with self purchased camera equipment, have spent hours upon hours teaching themselves how to create quality content and work complicated social media algorithms to be seen, and don't have the backing of major sponsors like National Geographic.
If only we had video skills - we could be Youtubers too! Our Land Rovr, Morocco.
Talking to our 'influencer' travel doco friends, we've begun to understand how much work goes into their efforts. From planning logistics to filming, editing, and producing, creating a single 20-minute episode can take a long time, and you also need the tech skills. There is no guarantee of financial security in such an occupation, and they spend a lot of time thinking about content that inspires, educates and entertains, as well as keeping Patreon members happy by having en route meets ups and so on. 'Going on holiday' sounds great, but if every moment has to be filmed and storyboarded, it's also a job. It's exactly why we don't Youtube our travels - we don’t have the patience for it. There’s also a whole heap of other skills needed, like business acumen and planning and organisation skills.
The value they bring to the audience is also underrated. We forget how platforms like YouTube have become legitimate sources of documentaries. Through these we experience new cultures and places and histories that once we’d only find out through magazines or BBC documentaries. We often appreciate the raw, authentic, unscripted, and personal nature of such content - we’re more likely to identify with people just like us doing cool things. It makes us feel that maybe we can do it too. Remember often they’re the ones that got off the couch and followed a passionate dream. Maybe critics are just jealous doing their 9 to 5.
Travel Youtubers are often pretty intentional in building communities and shaping content that their audiences asks for. If we’re part of these communities, we feel genuinely bonded to them. So whilst it might seem weird to watch someone ask for financial support for an unexpected engine breakdown, a large community chipping in twenty bucks or a hundred bucks isn’t that criminal. It’s just an extension of that connection, where creators are pretty transparent about their needs and invite their viewers to be involved in a journey they feel part of. If you don’t feel a part of that experience, don’t contribute - simple. I didn’t. I didn’t have spare cash. But I would have, if I had money at the time. I didn’t to the girl whose Kombi caught on fire and her friend asked for a crowdfund - she didn’t offer anything in return, I didn’t know her, she wasn’t part of my community, and to be honest, that’s just a life lesson that most of us have had to manage at some point in our lives.
I guess it’s easy to judge influencers but we have to consider how many are providing value to their audience in an authentic way. We have to stop and recognise the work, passionate, effort and intention they put into their content, and give them a break. We live in a world where we’d rather consume content anywhere but mainstream television, and we have to recognise that it’s unfair to expect that for free. Even if we don’t particularly like their field, we have to consider whether they bring something meaningful to the digital landscape for others.
With Love,
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I'm totally down with people asking for money, especially influencers who create good content. It's not like they step on anyone's toes when soliciting contributions, and compared to regular advertising they're merely a benign speck in the vast stream of consciousness. Also, nobody is obliged to send them money, but if they do (someone always tends to, especially with tons of followers) it's totally understandable and well appreciated. For those who complain about this, maybe they should try asking for it themselves. It may actually work better than expected.
Totally. I mean it can't hurt to ask, right? I just don't think we should be so judgey about it. People say 'oh well I need a new car, maybe I should ask the internet' but they've missed the point. I think if you ask for money for a world trip that's taking the piss, but asking for a donation for new brakes in return for continuing content viewers enjoy, why not? Or one I saw was a girl who was filming her trip across America got her camera gear stolen and couldn't afford more to keep filming. I mean if people want to donate 5 or 20 bucks, who cares?
I was thinking, if they had 90,000 subs, and say only 1000 of them sent in 20 bucks each, well - that's pretty cool isn't it?
I just wish I had a face for film :P
Hey never too late to start learning those video skills. Wouldn't even have to be that detailed and fancy, you guys would make interesting travelers to follow. As for being hard on them, I sure think so. Don't see the big deal, to be honest. If people are willing to fund their travels with their hard-earned money, what's the problem? I mean, it's legit for me to pay for a Spotify subscription or a newspaper or a cosmetics brand, all with my money, in the idea that it brings some value to my life. As long as these people's adventures do also, where's the harm?
Here, we have a saying - it's not a fool who asks, but the one who gives [money, love, all those other things we may later kick ourselves for giving]. I don't think it's foolish to give to travel influencers, but even if it were, it wouldn't be the influencer's fault imo :D
I just think people get jealous!
Oh, I so understand the time and effort that goes into creating “good” YouTube content.
Some are good at it some are not.
It isn’t easy in any way people do forget this… it takes long days and nights to create…
If you miss a day or week, you lose your followers.
Some just want to consume their videos and still think badly about them. Not like that is their actual job… for the time being.
I see it as a 24/7 job I sure wouldn’t want to have, just to be able to travel the world. I hate being in front of a camera too hahaha
It takes up so much time and I worry I wouldn't be in the moment as much!
Yes… I think the same.
I often wonder if it would be worth the time to repropose travel content for you tube. Not the full on 20 minutes talk to screen, A roll stuff with 5k worth of cameras. It seems easy enough to put a few photos and short videos together with a bit of voice over or music with the free version of capcut. Even if it is only for family to see what we are up to.
If you have the skills and the time, why not? I think I've never done it as I would have high expectations of my own work and know I'd only be able to manage a slide show at best. I do love travel docs with voiceovers - it doesn't have to be you doing a park run in a g-string, that's for sure !!
Men, after reading through this, I guess I'm able to understand their perspective a little bit better. I haven't really taken the time to think about the work that goes on in the background for these influencers to be able to bring their content to life.
It's a lot of work and I guess it's not so bad to ask for support every once in a while. Besides I doubt it's compulsory for these people that complain
I'm really glad I gave you something to think about. I mean they get a bad name for the stupid things they do but some really produce valuable stuff!
Making good YT videos takes an incredible amount of time and effort, and to be fair it's free to consumers unless the content is released behind a pay wall, which I imagine only generates a small amount of income for them.
I think for those who moan about influencers, they always have the option to switch channels or off all together.
Yeah exactly. People are quick to troll when they don't have anything to offer themselves.
For most of them, nope! Some of them are really good and genuine people though!
What's your reasoning there? Did you read the whole article?
I skimmed it in my half asleep stupor! I need to read it again
Ha, well, you could tell! 😂
Ok I finished reading it and my first comment is half right :D
I still dislike a fair bit of the travel ones except that perhaps I just have the wrong ones in mind. Some of my favorite YT channels, if I watch it, are people like the Outdoor Boys which is not technically a travel channel per se but it's great how they come up with content all over the world that's related to fishing and things like that.
I despise the idiots who do a 15 second clip of their tits or ass on something like the great walk of China or something.
So in short yes I think I dislike the lame ones and appreciate the good ones. It's gotta be outdoor or survival related for me to enjoy it. I can't really watch someone who visits Rome for a video but that's me.
Absolutely - if your outdoors bloke relied on an ass shot of his girl for the likes, he's also a dick
We totally agree here
And thanks for coming back, I did tell you off didn't I haha!
To answer your question, No
Ha, a very brief response. Did you read the rest of the article or just respond to the headline? What's your thinking?
My sister hates when I do these "conversation traps". I do it in person to see if they are listening, or just plain engaged. It's like I plan out the steps and deliveries of the discourse.
I feel like these Attention-starving 'artists' don't really bring value in and of themselves. They are about as useful as the cup that holds the water of life. Convenient and even necessary sometimes but not useless. They are like catalysts. For me it's like the mainstream influencers are there to make us disgusted and eventually abolish the legacy for something new and unique.
I'm not necessarily saying that YouTubers are idiots. Many of these people show signs of.... being clever?
Why does there have to be a stigma around a different approach? Now, maybe if you were unsuccessful or if you were not so good people and took the same approach but from a bad angle there would be something to talk shit about!
Just sounds envy or some other form of contempt. They are being hard on you (or trying to 😂 ).
I can see why :P Do you also pull her braids?
I honestly think the people moaning about it are just jealous. They're not able to make money from their shit talking and their cowboy 4x4 shenagins so they like to be mean about people who have figured out how to make money from their passions.
I mean, a ton of influencers are dickheads, don't get me wrong. And what's horrifying is that there's a ton of American teenagers who are choosing 'influencer' as their number 1 career choice without realising that you need a heap of others skills other than good looks to compete and actually create something valuable.
No I didn't pull their braids haha!
I don't remember if I read it in a more recent book or maybe it was just a tweet (or maybe an 'x'?) what are they called now?
"I hated when boys would pull my trensas when I was little...
Funny how things change..."
I didn't pull hair, I used my fists 😭
When I got big enough to be a challenge, I discovered I could fight back. Then they were scared. Namely #3
I eventually set down my arms
and instead took up the pen
I was going to say jealousy but opted for the word envy instead because "jealous" sounded more childlike, or as if the matter is not so serious. Or they mean the same thing? I don't think so because we have two different words for them as well...
Maybe I like the word jealous better now. Because that is what these "high profile" "influencers" act like sometimes: children.
Did you make an angry comment on their YouTubes? Lol
Shame on them for unknowingly bashing on their own followers. Like my now president did to a prominent Puerto Rican public figure who formerly supported him. Tisk tisk.
How I dislike that word 'influencer'. Guess unless you're called one you haven't made it - on social media. I'll never be one, nor do I have any desire to. My 'work' lies elsewhere. But that's what it is, being a full-time YTer takes time, dedication, skill and a lot of other stuff. Why shouldn't they get paid for it somehow? I know how hard that is for an artist. And we are consuming their content for a reason, so why not. If we don't like it, move on, don't pay for it. Nobody is being forced to pay. Those people bitching and complaining about the 'YTer easy life, sponsored by us'?
This ⏫. Those critics should try and do the YTer's job and they'd find out quickly how hard that really is. They really should bugger off and shut up.
Sorry, people complaining an whining about stuff they don't know a thing about - gets me every time.
I don't reckon people are particularly against tourism videos from these people. The term influencer, to me at least, is associated with the utterly entitled degenerates who spread their reputation of filth around the world, block roads for the sake of a dance, intimidate people, tasteless pranks of humiliation.
I think if they were a bit more wholesome, virtuous and well-behaved, it would just be a normal feature of life. But I think there's a statistic like 85% of all students in school say they want to be an influencer when they grow up. Not a pilot or a fireman, not an engineer or doctor. Influencer. That's pretty depressing and automatically makes me against it as a concept lol