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Thinking a whole lot about freelancers, independent contractors, and harassment, for obvious reasons.
For many jobs, you go in, create the thing or make the episodes, and you’re done. You (hopefully) get paid. It’s maybe enough to get you through rent or a few bills.
For many jobs, you go in, create the thing or make the episodes, and you’re done. You (hopefully) get paid. It’s maybe enough to get you through rent or a few bills.
Let’s say something you create gets buzz, draws attention. As a freelancer, there is no health insurance. You either pay out of pocket for independent care or get it through a partner, if you have one. Therapy has a co-pay of around $85 on most silver-tier plans.
Let’s say your project gets buzz. Especially if you are a marginalized creator, attention turns on you. That alone is tough. Good problems to have, for sure, but your workload DRAMATICALLY increases as you answer emails, inquiries, and requests. Do streams, etc. Most/all unpaid.
Then, say it turns vicious. You start getting harassed. People are cruel at best, outright threatening at worst. That becomes a full-time job. It’s mentally brutal. But therapy is $85/session and there aren’t resources available for creators dealing with this.
Getting support to cope with that, and many of the other stresses of freelancing often will end up costing more than you made on the project.
Companies can no longer act surprised when this happens. Because it happens EVERY TIME that Black, POC, disabled, queer, trans, and female creators are highlighted. And it’s basically guaranteed for multiply marginalized folx.
We need to protect people.
We need a sea change.
We need to protect people.
We need a sea change.
What can we do?
We need industries that put their creators under the spotlight to make sure they have support. Moderation and verification tools and aid. Help with safety issues and mental health care and support. Preparation advice for how to...
We need industries that put their creators under the spotlight to make sure they have support. Moderation and verification tools and aid. Help with safety issues and mental health care and support. Preparation advice for how to...
...safeguard socials against hacking and protect vs. doxxing. Blanket condemnation on the highest levels against creator abuse, bc frankly, no one makes enough to have their lives and families threatened, and certainly independent creators working 5+ gigs to pay the bills don’t.
I worry about my friends. It keeps me up at night. I worry about their safety. I worry about their health.
I’m scared for them when we should be celebrating the incredible work that everyone is doing.
And it’s not fucking fair.
I’m scared for them when we should be celebrating the incredible work that everyone is doing.
And it’s not fucking fair.
