By Halim Mohammad (Dhaka Bureau)
The allure of stardom, overnight fame, and substantial financial prosperity- this triple attraction has turned ‘content creation’ into the most appealing and glamorous career path for the current youth generation. However, as dazzling as it appears from the outside, the inner reality is starkly bleak and ruthless. Experts view this world as a modern-day ‘battlefield’ where those who fail to sustain the fight drop out like defeated soldiers. In this high-stakes game of content creation, you either emerge as a ‘hero’ or end up a ‘zero’- there is simply no middle ground for success.
Driven by the easy access to technology, over 1.2 million people in Bangladesh have taken up content creation through blogging, influencing, or freelancing. But the question remains: how many of them are actually succeeding? Inside accounts reveal that behind the stories of overnight stardom lie intense mental pressure, financial instability, and the constant fear of fading into obscurity.
More Stories of Loss Than Success
Conversations with several successful and familiar faces in the industry reveal that while the frenzy to enter this profession is intense, the reality of survival is incredibly grueling. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube are so volatile that a creator who has monetization (earning capabilities) today might lose it tomorrow due to sudden policy shifts or algorithm updates.
Warning against this unpredictability, digital media trainer Amrit Molongi states, ‘Facebook is so unpredictable that someone who has monetization today might find it gone tomorrow. Given the current landscape in Bangladesh, our advice to everyone is clear: choosing content creation as a primary career right from the start can pose a significant financial risk.’
A Tale of Two Creators: Robin and Humayun
Osman Robin has been working as a content creator for nearly 15 years. After years of relentless hard work, a single dialogue- ‘Rag Korla?’ (Are you angry?)- suddenly went viral on social media, bringing him widespread recognition. Yet, this fame failed to translate into financial freedom.
Reflecting on his experience, Robin shares- ‘This time I went viral with just a few views, whereas I had much larger view counts on my previous videos but never went viral. People assume I am raking in millions and earning hundreds of thousands daily. But that is simply not the reality. The way people are blindly rushing into this field- if they cannot maintain content quality and editing standards, they will easily drop out.’
With similarly sky-high dreams, Md. Humayun stepped into the world of content creation. Although he grabbed media headlines within four months of creating content, he failed to build a steady follower base or consistent views. Consequently, his page never achieved monetization, leaving his financial hardships unresolved.
With a voice tinged with disappointment, Humayun says, ‘I have been making content for four months now, but I haven’t gained any reach or success yet. I haven’t earned a single penny. If I could make some money, I could fulfill my dreams.’
The life stories of most people who have flooded into this profession over the past few years in Bangladesh mirror those of Robin and Humayun- deeply shrouded in frustration and uncertainty.
The Key to Surviving the Battlefield
According to experts, blindly stepping into this world solely lured by the prospect of big money can be self-destructive. While some may earn hundreds of thousands a month and others just a few thousand, the real battle is not about going temporarily viral; it is about sustainability.
Social media expert Md. Zubayer highlights a crucial aspect of this industry: ‘In content creation, someone might be earning hundreds of thousands while another earns just a few thousand. However, the most critical factor is producing quality content. Without maintaining high-quality content, surviving in this profession or sustaining your position over the long run is virtually impossible.
Pressenza’s Perspective
Content creation is undoubtedly an undeniable pillar of the modern digital economy. However, viewing it merely as an easy source of income is a major misconception. To survive in this fierce competition and constantly evolving digital colosseum, one requires patience, intellect, and high-level creativity. For those blindly abandoning their primary professions or studies under the spell of glamour to step into this maze, it may ultimately turn out to be nothing more than a mirage.
##########
The Writer:
Halim Mohammad: Senior Journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
