US media: Is it worth it to follow the free internship of Internet celebrities?

Source: Global Times

The New York Times article on January 15, the original title: Is it worth it to be an intern for Internet celebrities? In September 2020, a new influencer named Audrey Peters received her first brand collaboration offer. One startup asked her to recite outrageous conversational footages as she filmed herself strolling through Manhattan with her smartphone. But it wasn't long before no friends were willing to walk around the city with her.

One content creator advised Ms. Peters to find an unpaid intern — someone who could support her work in exchange for experience. So she posted on social media and offered unpaid part-time work. But the online response was poor. Critics lashed out at her for exploitation. Still, Ms Peters said: "I still get text messages and emails from people saying 'I'd love to work for you'. "More than a year later, such requests continue to flow.

After a decade of labor movements, class actions and legislative refinements, it may be difficult to see the appeal of getting an internship (whether paid or not) with an influencer today. But for young people who grew up spending time online and sharing carefully edited videos, the opportunity to learn how to make a living from their own content can be tempting. According to a 2019 survey of 2,000 millennials and Gen Z, 54 percent said they wanted to be influencers if they could. Now that more than two years later and people's work and lifestyles have undergone a lot of changes, creative freedom and flexibility (not to mention higher earning potential) may be more attractive. "Young people don't want to live a corporate life." Gabe Feldman, who is in charge of the development of the influencer business, said, "They want to have fun, participate in some related activities, and integrate into the culture." ”

Of course, there are also disadvantages to being an intern for Internet celebrities, including uncertain time, irregular work, and limited labor protection and responsibility. Not to mention the uncertainty of the fans. "For example, you work with an influencer and you do a great job in 2021, and then in 2022, the fans stop growing," Feldman said. There is no capital to boast about. "There's also the question of money. Feldman estimates that only 40 percent of the influencers he connects with compensate interns with hourly wages, wages or cash dividends.

However, Hala Taha believes that experience is the most valuable form of compensation. Since 2018, she has built her own media company with the help of more than 40 interns and volunteers. Ms Taha, 35, said: "They were podcast listeners, asking what help they could offer, and some said they admired me. They want to get into the media industry, but lack experience. I'm a professional writer of copywriting and video. So give them real-time feedback and comments, and I feel like it triples their skills in a month. ”

Katie Welch, chief marketing officer at a cosmetics company, believes that interning for influencers can be "a great place to start a career," especially if you want to pursue a career in marketing or PR. But she also advises caution. "What I want to say to the intern is, 'Are you getting paid and treated fairly?' ”

Jon Retinger, 41, manages several YouTube tech channels. He said he hopes to provide useful guidance to interns, such as how to deal with online violence. Sarah Nakwe, 24, who previously worked as an intern at a stationery and grocery company, has now signed a contract with the company. Speaking of the company owner, she said: "She supports my creations and I have never had this kind of adult support before. (Translated by Jennifer Miller and Chen Jun'an)