Making peace with the 'content creator' label

I am a content creator. I have been a content creator since I started making YouTube videos alone in my bedroom in 2008 (before it was cool). After a while, calling myself a content creator started to feel silly. Especially when I entered the professional workforce and felt pressured to fit into the quite limiting box the title of Journalist stuffed me into.

Once I started making podcasts and gained a following on Instagram, I began to struggle with my digital identity. During the day, I worked as a journalist. But I was also a book reviewer, and photographer. I hosted shows. I dreamed of getting back into YouTube, though that's likely a dream I won't have the opportunity to chase for a while (if ever).

So many of the things I do outside of work -- writing, podcasting, social media -- falls under the general expectations and responsibilities of a content creator. But I struggled with that still. The title didn't sound professional. I wasn't going to impress anyone with that.

Two things happened to change my mind. One: the concept of becoming a content creator as a job became more achievable and much more desirable for more people entering the workforce (and those like me who were already in it. Two: The need to impress anyone vanished when constant layoffs began plaguing the digital media industry. The notion of "work hard and you'll always be able to find more work" all but completely vanished for me and my friends in the industry.

Content creators are some of the most hard-working and inspiring people I know (or follow). Most of them are chronically underpaid, but many of them also genuinely love what they do -- and it shows. They're not ashamed of their work. You really can't be when at least part of your income relies on other people being drawn to the art you create.

Being a content creator isn't an easy job, but it's a job. It deserves to be recognized and valued as such. And as part of that effort, I'm determined not to shy away from calling myself what I've always been -- someone who makes content online because I have the skills, it's fun, and it has the potential to help people who may stumble upon it.

Fellow content creators, unite!