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
Who really controls the news on the internet? A study from Spain
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Analysis of more than thirteen thousand articles reveals behind-the-scenes mechanisms of spanish digital media. Left-wing portals are responsible for 50.33 percent of texts on lobbying. The energy lobby generates 63.41 percent of publications. Only one daily newspaper evaluates pressure groups positively.
Children and artificial intelligence. The generation of a global experiment is growing
Joanna Sokołowska, UNICEF Polska
A UNICEF analysis based on new data from 10 countries shows that at least 20 million children have already used artificial intelligence (AI). Many of them are ahead of adults, adopting these technologies at a pace more than three times faster.
New generations and the end of traditional news. Reuters Institute report
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Traditional news media are losing touch with the youngest generation of audiences, who grew up in a digital environment. Young people aged 18 to 24 spend time online continuously and expect publishers to take a fresh approach to presenting reality, according to a report by the Reuters Institute.
See articles on a similar topic:
Freelancers 2025 in media and advertising. Useme report
Krzysztof Fiedorek
The modern media and communication market presents entirely new challenges for independent creators. Traditional services are giving way to more complex forms of messaging. The most popular industries in which Polish freelancers operate focus on companies' online presence and visual content.
Equality and Diversity in Media: European Broadcasting Union Report
KFi
European public media are increasingly focusing on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) as the foundation of their operations. Public broadcasters in Europe are implementing diversity strategies - both in content and within their teams. The findings from the report are clear: although progress is visible, many challenges remain.
The most valuable female personal brands in Polish fashion. IMM report
KFi
The ten most popular people in Poland in the "fashion" category generate over 1.5 billion contacts across all types of media in a year. Their value is nearly 400 million zlotys. The ranking was prepared by the Institute of Media Monitoring for "Forbes Women" magazine.
User Generated Content. A minefield for journalists and media
Krzysztof Fiedorek
Over 40% of internet users judge information credibility by likes and views. Only 20% use traditional news channels as a main and first source. A Reuters Institute report highlights the scale and risks of User Generated Content and offers advice on how media can avoid falling into its trap.




























