po polsku
illustration: DALL-EAs highlighted by the authors of the "Behind The Screens" report, published at the end of 2024 by UNESCO, digital creators operate for various reasons. Most frequently, they emphasize sharing knowledge (26%), earning income (23.8%), and providing entertainment (23.4%). Less common motivations include expressing opinions (13.8%) or promoting specific causes (5.8%).
For instance, Amanda da Cruz Costa from Brazil emphasizes her engagement in climate activism, while Faith Sycaoyao from the USA sees her mission as inspiring others through art. Creators, despite working in different fields, combine personal passions with a mission to influence the world.
Main Motivations:
- Sharing knowledge: 26%
- Earning income: 23.8%
- Entertainment: 23.4%
- Expressing opinions: 13.8%
- Promoting causes: 5.8%
Content Credibility Issues
A significant portion of creators (62%) admit that they do not thoroughly verify information before publishing. Popularity – measured by likes and views – is their main indicator of credibility (41.7%). Further down the list are recommendations from friends (20.6%) and evidence in the content (17%).
| Indicator | Percentage of Creators |
|---|---|
| Popularity (likes, views) | 41.7% |
| Recommendations from friends | 20.6% |
| Author’s reputation | 19.4% |
| Evidence and documentation | 17% |
The lack of systematic data verification poses risks to content audiences. UNESCO recommends intensifying training for creators to promote better media practices.
Law, Ethics, and Hate Speech
The study reveals that 59% of creators are unaware of regulations regarding freedom of speech or copyright laws. Only 32.4% of respondents claimed a good understanding of these regulations.
Insufficient legal knowledge is also linked to ethical issues. Only 50% of creators always disclose their content sponsors, undermining the transparency of their actions. This points to the need for implementing ethical standards in the influencer industry.
One of the biggest challenges for creators is hate speech. As many as 32.3% of respondents have experienced it firsthand, with 31.5% ignoring such incidents and only 20.4% reporting them to platforms.
Creators and Social Media Platforms
The relationship between creators and platforms is crucial for their success. The report indicates that 67.8% of respondents find platform guidelines clear, although most believe that technical support could be improved.
| Aspect | Percentage of Respondents |
|---|---|
| Clarity of guidelines | 67.8% |
| Content moderation | 64.6% |
| Technical support | 65.9% |
| Safety management | 69.3% |
Introducing better algorithms and a more human approach to moderation could improve the quality of collaboration between creators and platforms.
Training and Support
The report highlights a significant demand for training. Only 13.9% of respondents have participated in any ethics or legal courses, although 73.7% expressed interest in free UNESCO programs.
What Can Help Creators?
- Access to training in ethics and law.
- Tools to combat hate speech.
- Better collaboration with social media platforms.
Implementing such initiatives would allow creators to operate more responsibly and professionally. The UNESCO report shows that digital creators play a key role in shaping public opinion and promoting credible content. However, for their influence to be positive, they need support through training, regulations, and better relations with platforms.
The research was conducted on a group of 500 creators from 45 countries and included 20 in-depth interviews. The full UNESCO "Behind The Screens" report is available for free at https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1157546.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
New articles in section Media industry
Video market in Asia. Traditional media companies in retreat
KFi
The Asian video market will reach a value of 15 billion dollars. Investments are moving to streaming and cinema. Sports broadcasts and local films drive growth. Media Partners Asia presented the report "Asia Video Content Dynamics 2026".
Information laundering. Russian propaganda returns as news from China
KFi
Russian intelligence agencies use complex tactics to mask the primary source of their harmful narratives. Patrycja Krzyśpiak from NASK details this dangerous process of information laundering in a recent report.
Health disinformation on the internet. Diagnosis from an algorithm
Katarzyna Czechowicz
Health disinformation can cause a cancer patient to see a doctor when it is too late for effective treatment. It can also undermine trust in doctors and public institutions. As a result, people may refuse to cooperate even during a real external threat, experts warn.
See articles on a similar topic:
Decline in Trust in Media. Analysis of the Reuters Digital News Report 2024
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The “Digital News Report 2024” by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism highlights alarming trends concerning the declining interest in news and decreasing trust in media. These changes are not temporary but have become a long-term trend.
Yellow Badge. Jan Bluz's documentary on political prisoners in Belarus
BARD
Imagine writing three posts on a social networking site. For a few clicks on a keyboard, you get three years in a penal colony. Sounds like a grim joke? For political prisoners in Belarus, this is the reality that Jan Bluz shows in the documentary "Yellow Badge", produced with the support of the Pulitzer Center.
Women in media 2025. Editorial power knows no equality
KFi
Only 27% of editors-in-chief in the media are women, even though they make up 40% of journalists. In 9 out of 12 countries studied by the Reuters Institute, women in media are less likely to get promoted. It seems that equality in newsrooms is lagging behind broader society. And the gaps go much further.
Television 2025. Report by the European Broadcasting Union
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Europeans are watching less and less television. In 2024, the average viewing time was 3 hours and 13 minutes per day. Only 54% of young people had any contact with TV, and public broadcasters held a 23% share. Television is losing relevance, especially among the youngest viewers.
