Clicks For Cash: The Dark Side Of Content Monetization

I just came back from scrolling through Tiktok for over 10 minutes and the main reason I went there was to check out a video that wasn't even up to a minute. There are endless contents to consume on Tiktok and it's same in other social media, this is all thanks to people keeping the media busy with their lifestyles, talents, jokes and creativities.

But it's so sad that the idea of content monetization has long begun to be a thing of concern. While it has solved a lot of unemployment issues especially in my country, Nigeria as youths are utilising the opportunity and are really doing well to make money out of their little or great talents, there are dark sides.

Content creators are doing well but many of them are trying to do too much in order to earn from their contents. Most of the unwanted contents come from the new creators, the desperate ones and most especially, the ignorant ones who are just focused on the money they hear people are making from it. All of these just focus on money.

I think these people who focus on quantity (views and likes) over quality (impact and long term followership) are the ones who should be referred to as lazy to pursue actual work. Although, I must say even making contents for quantity (views) is not easy but what is worth doing is worth doing well and that counts for all.

With the consistency, creativity and true talents some do pursue in their contents, it's only right that there is monetization for these people to be appreciated with. It's just sad that there are the bad eggs among them just as it is in every sector of work or profession. So we can't conclude that content creators should find better jobs to do.

But to those people who go the extreme to create contents, and I'm referring to the fake herbal and medical doctors spreading all sort of health solutions and sabotaging the good advices out there, they should be banned from using their accounts. I remember a skit that portrayed these people so well, it was both annoying and scary.

Another dark side of content monetization I've seen is making the wrong people popular for the wrongest reasons, especially when there are no good impact achieved, just a moment of silliness. This has made the online space seem like a place for only madness that when the normal do normal things, they are kinda ignored.

As much as I wish there will be more professionalism, more sensible contents and more reasonable people taking over content creation jobs, there will always be those who will try to soil the white of the space. The space is not a bad place, it is the people who occupy it that makes it bad. Many have learned from it.

I guess this is where we remind ourselves not to believe everything the media says, we should remind ourselves that there are content creators who are just there for the money and not really to impact in you as you think they must have done with their fake contents. It's even wild that some viewers fan after the wrong and not right kinds.