There's something in the creator space that’s been bothering me for a little while, and that's charity fundraising. I love the idea of raising money for a good cause, and I recognise that many creators are passionate about doing so, but the line between genuine partnership and outright exploitation is getting incredibly blurry.
It seems to me that many so-called "opportunities" for creators are now just locked behind mandatory fundraising. Want to use a streamer studio at a convention, feature in a cool event or be involved with a particular brand? Raise money for their chosen charity. It feels less like a collaboration or partnership and more like we’re just being used for our community’s wallets.
Being constantly pressured to run fundraising also feels disrespectful to communities that creators have spent years fostering. Constantly asking them for money, especially when the cost of living is hitting everyone hard, just feels wrong. It treats them like a resource to be mined. And it also begs the question: when do creators get to be supported themselves? People often want to help their favourite creator improve their content or just make a living, but that support gets diverted when every opportunity is co-opted for someone else's fundraiser.
Look, this isn't me being anti-charity, I know there is incredible work being done in the space. This is a plea to re-think this predatory cycle. Creators and their communities deserve real partnerships that are built on mutual respect, not just a one-way transaction. It's time we started talking about a healthier system where creators are treated like partners, not prey.