speaking on current events as a content creator or small business owner

Key Concepts

• Business in Times of Crisis: The ethical considerations of continuing business operations during periods of social and political unrest.
• Creator Responsibility: The extent to which content creators have a responsibility to address current events and act as journalists.
• Performative Activism: The act of expressing support for a cause primarily to gain social approval, rather than genuine commitment.
• Privilege & Safety: The varying levels of safety and privilege individuals possess, impacting their ability to speak out on sensitive issues.
• Financial Risk & Brand Alignment: The potential financial consequences for creators who engage in political discourse, and the importance of brand alignment.
• Genuine vs. Reactive Response: The difference between thoughtful, informed commentary and immediate, reactive statements on current events.

Should You Still Do Business During Chaos? & The Role of Creators in Crisis

This discussion centers around the challenging question of whether it’s appropriate to continue business as usual during times of significant social and political turmoil, specifically referencing the current climate in America as of January 26th. The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of navigating constant unrest and the guilt many feel about promoting their work amidst suffering.

The Pause Dilemma & Crisis Management: Traditionally, the advice for social media managers during tragic events was to pause scheduled posts and offer a period of silence. However, the speaker argues this approach is problematic given the frequency of crises. She suggests that businesses and social media managers should proactively establish a “crisis management triaging system” – defining what events warrant a pause, considering local vs. global issues, and acknowledging the subjective nature of determining what’s “worthwhile” to address. For clients, this means upfront conversations about priorities.

The Power of Income & Net Positive Impact: The speaker emphasizes that having financial resources isn’t inherently negative. She shares her personal experience, noting that even a modest income allows for empowerment, charitable giving, political participation (like driving people to polls), and a generally positive impact. She argues that abandoning income streams isn’t necessarily the solution, stating, “I think it's typically not a bad thing when good people, decent people, have more money.” She posits that if those with empathy step back, those without may fill the void.

Content Creators & the Journalist Role: A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the pressure placed on content creators to become journalists and take public stances on issues. The speaker cautions against reactive statements, particularly when creators haven’t fully informed themselves about a situation. She recounts being pressured to comment on a video she hadn’t even seen, highlighting the risk of making insincere or ill-informed pronouncements. She stresses the importance of genuine responses over “performative” activism – actions taken solely to appease an audience.

Understanding the Pressure to Speak Out

The speaker delves into the psychological reasons why people demand statements from creators. She identifies two key factors:

1. Empathy & Control: When deeply affected by a situation, it’s difficult to believe others aren’t equally concerned. This fuels a desire to “fix” the problem and a need to see others acknowledge the issue.
2. Perceived Influence: There’s a belief that celebrity or influence carries significant political weight, leading people to believe that a creator’s statement could make a difference. However, she points to the example of Taylor Swift’s endorsement failing to sway an election as evidence against this assumption.

Lex Roman’s Experience: The speaker references a post by Lex Roman, a creator who found that focusing heavily on political content negatively impacted her business, ultimately forcing her to relocate. This illustrates the real-world consequences of taking strong public stances.

Privilege, Safety & Personal Risk Assessment

The speaker underscores that not everyone operates from the same position of safety and privilege. She shares a Threads post highlighting that individuals with different citizenship statuses, skin colors, wealth levels, or experiences with border crossings may have different priorities and limitations. She specifically mentions the pressure placed on Latina creators to speak out on issues directly impacting their communities, acknowledging the potential risks they face.

She then details her own personal safety concerns, revealing she’s had the FBI at her house and is currently involved in another situation requiring their attention. She receives threatening messages regularly and, as a woman and visible minority, must constantly assess her personal risk. She questions whether becoming a highly visible political figure is worth the potential danger. She emphasizes the need for creators to conduct their own “safety assessment” and consider the financial implications of potentially losing brand sponsorships. She notes that some creator contracts even include “no political discourse” clauses.

The Right to Disagree & Unfollow: The speaker concludes by asserting that individuals have the right to disagree with a creator’s views and, if necessary, unfollow them. She cautions against demanding perfection and acknowledges that disagreements are inevitable. However, she draws a line at advocating for violence or dehumanizing others, stating her firm belief in the humane treatment of immigrants.

The Importance of Action Beyond Social Media

The speaker stresses that genuine impact often happens offline. She shares examples of her own actions, such as donating to food banks, writing checks to relevant organizations, and offering her home as a safe haven to friends in need. She contrasts this with the often superficial engagement of “monthly Instagram posting.” She encourages creators to continue doing what they can, even if it’s not publicly visible.

Final Thoughts & Encouragement: The speaker encourages creators to continue their work, recognizing the value they provide. She acknowledges the potential for financial risk but emphasizes that income is a tool for positive change. She also encourages those who feel compelled to create content about current events to do so, recognizing the power of independent journalism.

Notable Quotes:

• “I think it's typically not a bad thing when good people, decent people, have more money.”
• “Silence on a topic isn't always compliance. Sometimes it's survival and protecting the people you love.”
• “People insulated by citizenship, skin color, wealth… may need to understand this because it's easy to misdirect anger when you feel so helpless.”
• “Demand perfection and, you know, pretend that we know what's going on in in people's worlds… I don't know that it is um the healthiest or the the best approach here.”

Technical Terms/Concepts:

• Performative Activism: Superficial engagement with a cause primarily for social approval.
• Crisis Management Triaging System: A pre-defined plan for responding to crises, outlining which events warrant a pause in regular content.
• Brand Alignment: Ensuring that a creator’s content and values align with those of their sponsors.

This discussion offers a nuanced perspective on navigating the complexities of being a creator and business owner in a turbulent world, advocating for thoughtful action, personal safety, and a recognition of the diverse experiences and privileges that shape individual responses to crisis.