For Western, social media has provided a source of purpose and created a community for him online after he became homeless at the age of 13 and lived on the streets until he was 17 and bought a trailer which he now lives in.
A Perth content creator, known to his followers as Homeless Entertainment, claims that a recent social media ban is jeopardizing his primary source of income. Western, who spent much of his teenage years living on the streets, says platforms like TikTok were instrumental in turning his life around. However, the ban on users under 16, implemented on December 10 last year, has significantly impacted his earnings.
Before the ban, Western was earning between $100 and $400 weekly through TikTok. His income primarily came from livestreams, which have seen a dramatic drop in viewership since the policy change. “Right before the ban happened, my livestreams were getting between 100,000 and 800,000 views. Right after the ban, I’ve gone down to 500 views on a livestream. I’ve stopped being paid, and I’m now struggling to get food and stuff like that,” Western told PerthNow.
Impact of the Ban on Young Audiences
Western estimates that 50 to 60 percent of his audience was under 16. While he acknowledges that a significant portion of his audience consists of adults, it is the younger viewers who are most engaged. “A large part of my audience are adults, but it’s mainly the under 16s who interact with the videos, which is why it’s tanked so much,” he explained.
The content creator believes the responsibility should lie with social media platforms rather than users. “I think instead of forcing these younger people to get off social media for their protection, we should have gone to the social media platforms themselves and told them to ban addictive features, improve moderation, and make it so these kids don’t get adult content on their feeds,” he suggested.
Social Media: A Lifeline for Western
For Western, social media has been more than just a source of income; it has provided a sense of purpose and community. Having become homeless at the age of 13, he lived on the streets until he was 17, when he managed to purchase a trailer to live in. “I can fully say with confidence that social media has saved my life countless times,” he stated.
Social media also played a crucial role in Western’s life before he became a content creator. “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.
“I feel like the youth should have the option to find support groups like that.”
Future Aspirations and Community Engagement
Looking ahead, Western aspires to become one of the “biggest” content creators while maintaining a strong connection with his community. “I want to be the people’s streamer. You see a lot of content creators who think they’re Gods. I want to be the person people can look to and be like, he’s just one of us,” he said.
This development follows a broader debate on the impact of social media on younger audiences. Experts argue that while protective measures are necessary, they should be balanced with the benefits that online communities can provide, especially for vulnerable individuals.
As Western navigates these changes, his story highlights the complex relationship between social media platforms and the individuals who rely on them for both livelihood and community. The move represents a significant shift in how content creators must adapt to evolving digital landscapes and regulatory environments.
