Your favorite creators are terrified of losing everything

And there's something you can do about it.

Social Media App Bluesky Social Increases Its User Base
Social Media App Bluesky Social Increases Its User Base | Anna Barclay/GettyImages

I don't know of a single content creator out there who isn't absolutely -- and often secretly -- terrified that one day, they are going to wake up and everything they built will be gone.

Even the most successful creators and influencers you know secretly wonder what would happen if their audiences, accounts, and all they had ever made just suddenly disappeared. The most confident, smart, and strategic people creating content on the internet often worry that they will either make a devastating mistake or that someone else will decide to wipe the entire history of their careers with the push of a button.

This is largely due to the fact that although creators control their content, they do not control the sites and channels through which such content is uploaded and viewed. Sites like YouTube and TikTok have the right to remove any and all content from their platforms anytime they want -- for big reasons or seemingly none at all. One day, you really could wake up to everything being erased.

Even if they don't talk about it publicly, your favorite creators probably wonder if there is another career for them outside of content creation. And some of them probably even wonder if you, their followers, would care enough to follow them on to new projects outside of social media.

Audiences generally don't have much control over things like this. But one significant thing that you can do is show your support for your favorite creators beyond consuming their content. Leave comments. Share. Let them know their content matters to you (but just don't make it weird).

Support comes in many forms, and it absolutely does not have to be financial -- and believe it or not, most creators understand that, as many of them have or are currently struggling financially. Sometimes, the simple act of letting someone know you're there and paying attention to what they are doing can ease their fears and help them continue on making the things you love.