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Is Content Creation the Wave for Black Millennials?

Social networking is one of the most popular online activities. We are seeing that more than ever this year. After being on lockdown for nine months, I now have an entirely new appreciation for technology and digital media.

As a Black millennial activist and entrepreneur, I know many, like me, find themselves in a state of confusion during this peculiar moment in history. We collectively feel empowered to speak out and use our personal media platforms to get our messages out, particularly as it relates to racial justice and the general advancement and wellbeing of the Black community.

W We are not impressed by the glacial speed of the nation's racial progress and remain uncertain about when we may be able to return to real social interactions with family and friends. In the backdrop of a contentious election, many of us turn to social media for a safe space to escape from it all.

So, how is this social dilemma impacting Black millenials?

“It’ s a double-edged sword, ” explains Brookland-based project manager Yemisi, “On one side, we use social media to make community with old friends and gain comic relief. On the other end, \our mental health is affected every time we see the normalization of a Black man or woman being killed by a police officer. ”

InIn 2018, the Public Health Post said that Black Americans were exposed to two additional poor mental health days each year due to police violence. Collectively, that is 55 million poor mental health days per year, which is similar to the mental health impact of chronic diseases like diabetes.

The recent Netflix original documentary “The Social Dilemma ” underlines the political polarization caused by social media and its effects on mental health, and highlights the surveillance capitalism that has made user data the most valuable product today.

W We are in an age where some users aimlessly interact with social media by scrolling through social networking apps and clicking on any ad of interest, while others use it to curate engaging content that allows them to turn their passions into profits.

”If you’re not paying for the product, then you’re the product. ”

Many Black millennials operate their social media platforms as creative marketplaces. And, what are they selling? Themselves! Content created by Black millennials is in high demand while personal branding and lifestyle content has risen to a whole new level.

DespiDespite this fluency among millennials, many Black business owners of the Baby Boomer generation have struggled to compete in the digital marketing space. This knowledge is critical to be competitive in a COVID-19 environment. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the Small Business Resiliency Fund, a $3 million fund to bolster brick-and-mortar businesses with $10,000 grants to enhance e-commerce and digital marketing efforts.

For too long, Black culture has been commoditized to advance capitalistic economic systems without credit or fair financial reward to those who labored. Savvy entrepreneurs are using their influential platforms to combat this historic oppression.

T Today ’ s influencers and microinfluencrs alike offer masterclasses, stand up membership networks, and build learning communities in efforts to support their followers to level up.

Last week, Business Insider published an article sharing that an Instagram influencer made $1,000 in a week using Instagram Live’ s new tipping feature called, “badges, ” which is anticipated to be especially creative for influencers without huge audiences. D.C. -based influencer Ronne Brown responded to this latest IG feature with a call to action to aspiring influencers and entrepreneurs:

“Please “Please start taking social media seriously and give your audience REAL value. I’ ve been educating my audience on business (for free) for years. I also predicted that something like this would possibly happen two years ago and I told my audience to get ready for a new wave. Believe it or not, it will become a career to many. Just like there are full time you-tubers there will be full time Instagram content creators. IG TV videos are about to be monetized through ad placement too. Get your content ready. We are entering a new ERA!”

This is what I love the most about Black millennial influencers, they are constantly reaching back to bring up others with them.

Words