Sometimes ago, before we all knew we could make money from posts, videos, and engagement on the media, it felt real, everyone was just vibing and being real. Media wasn't like this then, people were people and everyone was just him/herself. But now, everything has turned upside down, the media now lokks like a market square, one where everyone is selling something, even if it’s just their personality.


![pexels-photo-5902919.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/marsdave/23wX5mDUV4bhz5AGEPnak1S9S6nCyzcdcqpNkm2G7dd4ePj7YFKbiUJ1s96GBB9QEegJP.jpeg)
[source](https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-woman-counting-dollar-bills-5902919/)





Here, it even seems as if it's more somehow, you open Instagram or TikTok and then you see people dancing or doing stuffs almost naked, you see people upload all there personally life's, you see someone crying on camera because they just broke up, not because they’re really hurt oh, but because tears bring views and engagements and views bring money. Today, people now stage accidents, spread rumors, fake deaths and even pretend to be kidnapped just to go viral. Its weird, I mean, you want to make it and have fame snd you’re now playing with your own life. Also, can I really blame them, it pays and foots their bills. They say its much better than begging or stealing.








The country is not smiling, opportunities are scarce and talent is everywhere but no one to help. I have a friend of mine, she just finished her NYSC(National Youth Service Corps), since theres no job, she used the money she saved during service to rent a room and buy a second hand iPhone with a ringlight and she began acting weird on the media, she says very soon she would be well known and brands will notice her. That same social media we say is breeding madness is also putting food on tables. So, while some of us here judging from the sidelines, others are using there using it to survive. The truth is, even I myself have thought about what kind of content I can start posting so as to be able to tap into this money. Theres the place for following ones passion, but also, what about what pays.







Its disheartening to see how creativity has turned into manipulation. People no longer share because they care, they do so because they calculate, because they think of what will bring about engagements, what will make people angry enough to comment or share...and then they flaunt their bodies, or post fake stuff or stories, and with that you see thousands of followers in few days. All is at the cost of our mental health. The media is heavy and filled with influences, pressures, confusions and all, everyone is either selling or selling....that's it. 






On the other side, how can I hate something that’s feeding and helping people. Theres a girl back then in my area, this girl is very hardworking and brilliant, she do help her mum hawk bread or cold pure water then. Sometimes about two years ago, she started tiktok and was dancing, now she's got a lot of followers, one of her videos went viral mid last year and that's a turnaround for her, she now has endorsement with big brands. 


![pexels-photo-6694537.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/marsdave/2423unCpGa9chmMj4twRfPAqSv2Vutnae7xxn4Z8KxxpNkzd1PfGq2pSBPqEGrNpvcRNg.jpeg)
[source](https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-counting-money-6694537/)





No godfather, no connection, just having data, being online and consistent. Social media has become a place where someone with no voice can suddenly become global. Where a boy or girl without even being educated can reach and make massive returns.







We cant do away with the media. Monetizing the media is good, but it's just like fire, it is capable of cooking and at the same time can burn, so it's not the medias fault, it all sums up back to how we are using it. Money will always find its way into things, what we need is balance and honesty. It’s up to us to decide whether we’ll let it control us or not.



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