I am a content creator. I’ve been creating on YouTube since 2015 and have one of the larger channels in the homesteading and gardening spheres (Roots and Refuge Farm). I spent this weekend in NC with some girlfriends whose families also have some very large channels in the same niche. This gave me further insight into the things I’ve been pondering since joining Nostr this week.

I do know the average content consumer doesn’t give a second thought to the reality that they are the commodity on current social platforms. They don’t care and it’s disheartening. BUT there are a lot of very experienced creators that are exhausted by the constant algorithm game. I haven’t convinced anyone to join me yet, as a lot of people simply aren’t willing to overcome the hurdle of the learning curve of a new platform. I think it’s getting ripe though, especially in regard to certain genres of content that just don’t fully work on a highly censored platform. Most homesteading content creators I know who have refused to indulge in algorithm-driven fear mongering have watched their reach dwindle and subsequently the monetization for their work drop by half or more.

I can’t teach or share about butchering, guns, inflation, putting animals down, or anything the mysterious “community guidelines” deem unmarketable without risking losing monetization on 9 years of work on YT. At the very least, when I don’t play by the rules (and often, I’ve not), I go from averaging 100k views a video to spending a few weeks only getting 20k per video. It’s maddening but like any employee, you mostly play by your bosses rules even if you hate them. You do what you have to keep your job and pay your bills. Eventually though, tyrannical bosses drive good workers away.

This is an oversimplified view of course, because there are other factors. I love what I do. I love homesteading and teaching it and I love the people I’ve connected with over the years and currently YT is my avenue to reach them. I would really really love another way though. The appeal of Nostr to me was seeing the potential for true freedom in creation and reaching a community with honest and untainted information and content. I agree, it’s going to take more development and ease of use for the masses to come, but I think the trajectory is very good.

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