Hey Everyone,
I don't watch movies or TV anymore, but have to admit to having a slight addiction to YouTube. I have always loved libraries because I love the possibility of walking in and learning about literally any subject in the world -- and I have always seen YouTube as a "living library." I love having real-time access to a world of information -- all contained in a pocket-sized electronic "library card" that I can carry with me.
Some of my favorite areas of interest to watch/listen to videos on are finance, creative hobbies, travel, faith, and home making (everything from cooking to decorating to organization.) What are yours?
Lately though, I find myself struggling with watching content creation, because I don't like its tone. The social channels I listen to have pointed out that much of social media has become all advertising, asking for, or even trying to demand money, all just for being there. While I think it's to be expected with these platforms, it's most troubling to me when I see it happen among what I consider honest Christian people.
There are several people I've followed for many years, just everyday Christian people, and yes, I believe they are the sincere Christians they claim to be. (No one who follows my threads will be surprised to hear that I wrote one a fan letter, and she wrote an actual real, postal paper letter back to me!) I follow them for their genuine personalities, declarations of faith (which often include reading Bible passages, which is a brave thing to do nowadays when you have an audience,) and their authentic love and knowledge of the subjects they share about.
I am, however, a bit torn in that many I've listened to for years are all slowly adding paid tiers and programs to their channel -- not something they require, but "a way to support the channel." Examples include adding YouTube memberships, selling books and merchandise, monetizing their videos for ad revenue, setting up other platforms like Patreon, and, the highest red flag of all to me, selling "how-to" courses.
Growing up in church culture all my life, this is always something that's made me uncomfortable. "Buy whatever I'm selling to support my ministry and my family!"
I struggle because the Bible does indeed say, "The worker is worthy of his wages" (1 Timothy 5:18.)
* But is there a point where we, the consumers, get to decide if the work was worthy of paying OUR wages for it?! And who will have our backs in return if we're paying out for everyone else? (I know it's a matter of trusting God, but there has to be a balance -- somewhere.)
* Is there a limit as how many people can choose social media as a paid side hustle or full-time job -- and have a right to expect other people to pay for it?
For myself, I have a certain part of my "Giving Budget" that I set aside to give to social media channels I've found e specially helpful in my own life. But I have to admit to unsubscribing to some in which they were constantly asking for money, (or advertising companies I don't want to support,) and always talking about their problems as a way to hint for money (as if the rest of us don't have our own problems.)
I feel especially uncomfortable when people (including Christians) say, "Your contributions are helping to feed my family/pay for my costs of keeping this channel running/motivating me to keep going," or "Things have been really hard, I'm disabled/have a disabled loved one I take care of/have small children/just had another baby/have relatives in the hospital, and things are really tough. Your memberships/purchases/donations are helping to keep my family fed, clothed, and sheltered."
Countless people, including Christians, are seeing social media as a way to earn a living, and many seem to expect, or even become angry, that people aren't throwing money at them for just being there. I admit to being especially soft-hearted for anyone disabled/and or trying to care for others who also have special needs and are trying to support their families on social media because of real-world limitations.
However, if I give money to or unsubscribe from everyone who does these kinds of things, I'll soon be broke and won't have anyone left listen to (which could be a good thing.) I've also grown up around people who owned and ran businesses, and I know there can be a lot of costs behind the equipment (for recording and editing, which some people hire others to do,) as well as several other expenses viewers don't think about (the products and services they review, transportation, research, etc.)
I do try to stay open minded because if you could receive money, for example, for posting here on CC (let's say someone was willing to pay you a dollar per post) -- would you do it? And what if they were paying $5 for every thread? With as many threads as I write here just as a hobby, I have to tell you, I would be tempted by that.
If you could get paid to put up videos about things you love doing anyway (cooking, painting, working on cars, playing video games, etc.), would you do so?
But I also know that money, and whoever is paying it, will also start to control you, along with how, what, and why you post, and I wouldn't be okay with that at all. This is a major reason as to why, though many have kindly suggested it over the years, I have never tried to turn my writing into anything monetary. In the end, for the good or the bad, I want the final say about what I write and where I post it (at least, for now.) If someone came knocking and offered me a gaggle of money for posting on CC and I had a sick friend or relative who needed help, I would struggle with wanting to take the money.
How about you? What are your thoughts?
* How much money, if anything at all, should people be allowed to make on social media?
* Does it depend on what they produce? What topics are acceptable? Should they be allowed to film their families and friends?
* Do you believe in contributing money to channels you watch? Why or why not?
* Should those who can't work regular jobs be allowed to turn social media into a full-time, full-paying job -- especially if they have families to support?
* If you were offered a deal in which you were paid money every time you posted (or met certain requirements, like "recommending" a product) just to share something you love doing, or for every post you made on a site -- would you take the deal? Why or why not? Would it depend on how much money they were offering?
With social media being such a big part of our everyday lives, I would really like to hear your thoughts.
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