Latest news with #YouTuber
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nobody's content with the 'content'
Recently, Fahad Mustafa's old comments against family vlogging and the overuse of the word 'content' resurfaced online and caused an uproar among Tiktokers and YouTubers. "'Content' is the most overrated word in this country. There is no such thing as content. Everyone is selling their families. They haven't even left graveyards alone. They go to their mother's grave, and record themselves saying I'm missing my mother, please pray for her. What kind of 'content' is this?" Mustafa had said when asked about sharing the screen with digital content creators during a TV appearance. "I can tell a good or a bad story. But I can't sell my family. I can't sell myself. If you go on a film or TV shoot, it takes time to do this. They can't understand that this takes us 8 to 10 hours since they live in a 10-second world." While the comment offended the Instagram, TikTok and YouTube content creators especially Rajab Butt, as Ricky Gervais says, "Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right." This back-and-forth has sparked a debate between the traditional media vs digital 'content'. But it's not a clash between Mustafa and Butt. The actor didn't even mention the YouTuber by name. The scope of this is much bigger than a forced, illogical personal feud. Content overload What Mustafa spoke about is a worldwide concern of artists in the face of countless challenges faced today. Be it AI coming in as a wrecking ball to destroy authentic human expression, shorter attention spans engineered over the last decade by social media overconsumption or the declining understanding of storytelling and art due to the aforementioned issues, there are already more than enough battles artists today are fighting to preserve their chosen media and forms of expression. This is not to defend shows like Mustafa's Jeeto Pakistan, which feed into the same Black Mirror-esque humiliation-in-exchange-of-gifts convention. But Mustafa has created work with a certain artistic integrity in film and TV both, namely Actor in Law and Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. However, phone cameras and social media platforms combined today have created an illusion that everyone is an artist, actor, or filmmaker. While the democratisation of the media has had numerous benefits, and this is certainly not an issue of gatekeeping, talking into a camera and showing what you cooked for lunch does not exactly require an abundance of talent or skill. There are many arguments to be made against family vlogging. The internet is full of stories of disgruntled and traumatized individuals forced by their in-house vlogger, be it a parent or a child, to be documented 24/7 for the sake of views. But the crux of the matter isn't even that. It's the fact that 'content' has replaced art, cinema and storytelling. The issues start with the usage of the word 'content' which piles up every artform into one giant automated factory where every creation serves the algorithm and the algorithm, in turn, feeds it back to us. It disintegrates the distinguishing characters of each art form and strips it of any value. This is why Mustafa's comments about the word ring true. If everything is content, then there's no difference between a feature film that takes years to produce and a bag of apples. This argument doesn't devalue platforms like YouTube which can be used for a myriad of purposes from education to art and music and everything in between. It criticizes the forced homogeneity of all art forms. And family vlogging is definitely not an art form. Casting influencers In recent years, even in Hollywood, we have seen a number of so-called social media influencers turn to film and TV. But none comes to mind when thinking about who has excelled and been recognized for their skills. One can bring up Logan Paul but he has succeeded in WWE and pro-wrestling is a vastly different kind of storytelling than film or TV. Films which star the influencers usually land on streaming platforms which again play by the algorithm and casting content creators becomes essentially the same as product placement or a gimmick to cater to the said individual's social media following. Earlier this year in an interview with Variety, Ethan Hawke also lamented the fact that filmmakers are being forced to cast based on Instagram following. He said, "Sometimes I'll be setting a movie up and someone will say, 'Oh, you should cast Suzie.' I'm like, 'Who is she?' 'She has 10 million followers.' I'm like, 'OK cool, has she acted before?' 'No, but ' And you're like, 'Wow, so this is going to help me get the movie made? This is crazy.' So if I don't have this public-facing [platform], I don't have a career? And if I get more followers I might get that part? What?" Just because someone is a social media 'content' creator doesn't automatically mean they'd be good at acting or creating any kind of art. The mindset involved in both is on the opposite ends of the spectrum. That ties in with another question: aren't most studio films made with the intent of profit and hence, they cast bankable actors to attract their fanbase. How is that different from casting a digital content creator? One response to that would be that the bankable actors can usually, if not always, act and do their job well. It's the same as when Pakistani media networks and digital platforms tried to make the 'Chaiwala' into the next big star after he went viral for his looks. It didn't work. As a filmmaker, there's a massive difference between working with trained professionals and amateur enthusiasts. Most of the time, the lack of understanding of the process results in a low-calibre work. But we live in a world where everyone only wants to be on screen and get those 15 minutes of fame. And if 10-second reels can do that, who would spend months and years to tell a good story?
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Delhi HC directs websites to pull down content misusing Sadhguru's identity
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Friday directed websites to pull down content misusing Isha Foundation chief Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's name, image, or personality to sell products. Counsel representing Sadhguru told a bench of Justice Shubhash Benarjee that Sadhguru's identity was being exploited to promote products fraudulently, prompting requests for takedown orders. "My name is being exploited to sell products — one such example is the book 'Garbh Yatra' (on pregnancy), which features my image on its cover. People are blindly trusting these offerings because of my reputation, making this a clear case of fraud. These entities are leveraging AI to deceive the public," he argued. The counsel representing Google submitted that affected parties must report specific URLs to intermediaries before any action can be taken. After a brief hearing, the bench stated that it would issue an interim order on the matter soon. Welcoming the court order, Isha Foundation posted on X, 'These scams include fake AI-generated videos, morphed images depicting false events, such as Sadhguru's arrest, and misleading advertisements promoting financial investments. Isha Foundation has been proactively working to remove such fake content and prevent individuals from falling prey to these scams.' In March this year, the Delhi high court directed the removal of videos and content published by a YouTuber against spiritual leader Sadhguru's Isha Foundation from online platforms. While issuing the order, the court emphasised that reputation is an essential aspect of an individual's dignity. It also underscored the need to balance freedom of speech and expression with the right to reputation.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Andi Peters makes huge blunder during live interview with KSI - leaving the YouTuber in stitches
Andi Peters left KSI in stitches as he made a huge blunder during an interview. The TV presenter, 54, sat down with the YouTuber, 31, as he stood in to host Friday's instalment of ITV 's Lorraine. KSI has been a guest judge on this year's Britain's Got Talent and has recently released new music. Yet as Andi introduced the star, he accidentally got his name wrong. He said: 'He's got 3billion global streams and 75.3million followers across social platforms and now online sensation KSE - KSI - is back...' KSI burst out laughing and swung his head back as Andi corrected himself, 'KSI is back, with a new single.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The influencer quipped, 'Normally, Lorraine is here.' 'Alright, alright, I think you'll find I'm a really good replacement,' Andi joked back. KSI replied: 'No you're smashing it man!' 'Thanks very much, apart from I said an E not an I,' Andi said. Last year, Andi had another hilarious moment on Lorraine when he couldn't contain his laughter after looking into the wrong camera during a competition segment. The presenter was in stitches after making the gaffe and struggled to regain his composure. The morning television host was presenting a competition opportunity for viewers when he started talking to the wrong camera. In a panic, he said: 'There's a lot of cameras in the studios, sometimes it's confusing!'. He then tried to introduce a map before admitting that he'd got mixed up and was presenting the graphic later on in the show. Barely containing himself he said: 'There's a lot of maps, there's a lot of cameras, there's a lot of voices in my head, there's so much going on.' And his laughter proved infectious as host Christine Lampard was also in hysterics at the mistake. Lorraine airs at 9am on weekdays on ITV1.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sadhguru seeks court protection against AI-driven misuse of his identity
Live Events New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking protection of his personality rights against unauthorised use of his name and image by various websites employing artificial the hearing before the bench of Justice Saurabh Benarjee, it was argued that his identity was being exploited to promote products fraudulently, prompting requests for takedown orders."My name is being exploited to sell products--one such example is the book Garbh Yatra (on pregnancy), which features my image on its cover. People are blindly trusting these offerings because of my reputation, making this a clear case of fraud. These entities are leveraging AI to deceive the public," he counsel representing Google submitted that affected parties must report specific URLs to intermediaries before any action can be a brief hearing, the bench stated that it would issue an interim order on the matter March this year, the Delhi High Court directed the removal of videos and content published by a YouTuber against spiritual leader Sadhguru's Isha Foundation from online issuing the order, the court emphasised that reputation is an essential aspect of an individual's dignity. It also underscored the need to balance freedom of speech and expression with the right to reputation.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pregnant YouTuber Wizard Liz dumps Landon Nickerson after crushing discovery
YouTuber Wizard Liz has dumped Landon Nickerson after learning he was cheating on her while she's expecting their child. The pair announced their engagement last autumn with a series of posts on Instagram hearkening their upcoming nuptials. 'I've never been happier,' Nickerson said. 'Thank you God.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
