Imagine a world where the very platform that offered you a lifeline suddenly became a barrier. This is the reality for Perth content creator, Western, also known as Homeless Entertainment. Having navigated the challenges of homelessness during his teenage years, social media became his sanctuary, his source of income, and his community. But now, a recent social media ban targeting under-16s is threatening to dismantle the life he's built.
Before the ban, Western was earning a respectable $100 to $400 per week through TikTok. However, since the ban's implementation on December 10th of last year, his income has plummeted. The core of his earnings came from live streams, which are now receiving significantly less exposure because the majority of his audience, primarily teenagers, can no longer access the platform.
"Right before the ban happened, my (livestreams) were getting between 100,000 and 800,000 views, right after the ban happens I’ve gone down to 500 views on a (livestream), I’ve stopped being paid, I’m now struggling to get food and stuff like that," he explained. He estimates that 50% to 60% of his audience was under 16, and while adults are part of his viewership, the younger demographic was the most engaged, leading to the drastic decline in interaction.
But here's where it gets controversial... Western isn't necessarily against the ban itself. Instead, he believes the focus should have been on regulating the social media platforms themselves. He argues that instead of removing younger users, the platforms should have been mandated to ban addictive features, improve content moderation, and prevent the exposure of inappropriate content to children.
For Western, social media served a crucial role, offering purpose and connection after he became homeless at age 13, a situation he lived in until he was 17. He was able to purchase a trailer, where he currently resides. He emphatically states, "I can fully say with confidence that social media has saved my life countless times." Beyond content creation, social media provided support during his youth.
"When I was younger, I would also use social media because if I’m being real, I wasn’t the most popular kid, I did get bullied. I would turn to social media to find support groups and help with that and that really helped me throughout my youth too," he shared. He feels strongly that young people should have access to such support networks.
Looking ahead, Western dreams of becoming a prominent content creator while maintaining a strong connection with his community. He aspires to be "the people’s streamer," someone relatable and approachable, in contrast to creators who may seem distant.
What do you think? Do you agree with Western's perspective on the social media ban, or do you believe the current approach is more effective? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
