I’m not a fan of most of these popular streamers, but I have some respect for those who make an effort to keep their fans in check. I think people underestimate the influence creators have over their audiences, and the responsibility that comes with using that influence appropriately is often downplayed or dismissed altogether.
Take Joey Swoll, for example. Despite claiming to be all about positivity, his social media feeds are among the most misogynistic and toxic creator spaces I’ve encountered. While I have no problem with calling out bad behavior, if you’re going to build your entire online persona around ‘positivity’ and encouraging people to ‘do better,’ you should hold yourself to those same standards.
When your platform starts inciting hate and fueling misogynistic, toxic behavior, it’s your responsibility to step in and address it—after all, aren’t you supposed to promote positivity? This is something I’ve never seen Joey Swoll do. Instead, I’ve noticed him repeatedly reposting old videos. Which raises the question: if your goal is to genuinely call out bad behavior, teach people a lesson, and encourage them to ‘do better,’ why repost videos months later, reigniting all that hatred against them? There seems to be no valid reason for this other than boosting engagement and profit, which only makes me question the sincerity of his message.
Anyone with a modicum of common sense can see that Joey Swoll’s fanbase is largely misogynistic and seems to take pleasure in hunting down and attacking those he highlights, often tagging his ‘swollarmy’ to ‘do their thing.’ Swoll is clearly aware of how his fanbase operates and capitalizes on it. While I can’t speak to whether he’s a misogynist himself—since I don’t know him personally—his inaction to curb this behavior suggests, at the very least, that he doesn’t care.
Then you have creators like voEROS, who not only recognize the influence they have over their fans but also weaponize it against anyone who dares to call out their bad behavior. I’m not suggesting these creators directly hold a megaphone and order their fans to attack, though there is certainly evidence of voEROS instructing his moderators to dig up information on people. As an influential creator, you don’t need to give explicit orders; fans will often do what they believe you want them to and act in ways they believe will please you.
I’ve also seen this among individuals on the right, where ad hominem attacks are quite common over political differences. If fans feel their idol has been insulted in any way, rather than engaging in debate or intellectual discourse, they will attack a person’s character or gleefully use their online footprint in an attempt to ruin their life. For a group that claims to hate ‘cancel culture,’ they certainly utilize it in an incredibly disturbing way when it suits their interests.
When people are afraid to call out a creator’s bad behavior—concerned about reprisals from fans, losing friends, having their lives unfairly scrutinized, or facing lies spread by those close to the creator—there’s a significant problem. When you do nothing to address this kind of behavior on your platform, you are complicit – if not responsible.
How many women have refused to speak out about voEROS because they’ve seen how others have been treated for doing so, or because they’ve been fed lies by him and his business partner or “friends” in their attempt to escape the latest wave of accusations unscathed? How many women have hesitated to post a video about the man who was creeping on them in the gym for fear that Joey Swoll will decide to ‘humble’ them on X, and that his misogynistic fans will flood their socials with rape and death threats?
On several platforms I feel like there’s been a rise in rage-baiting and a gross style of engagement farming that capitalizes on people’s prejudices, bigotry, and inability to think critically. On X, it certainly seems that Musk’s likely disingenuous commitment to free speech has given people license to openly display their worst traits, leaving the platform overwhelmed by an ultra-conservative, backward, and hateful mob mentality, which is quite scary to witness.
Anyway, I’m rambling. What I am saying is that I wish more creators would hold their fans accountable and take responsibility for the influence they have over them. I’m not suggesting that they are all entirely responsible for their fans’ actions, that would be ridiculous. Nor am I suggesting that all of them are blatantly weaponizing their fanbases—though some certainly are—but there comes a point where intentionally ignoring your fans’ toxic behaviour essentially amounts to weaponizing them – especially when that behavior stems from a parasocial desire to act on your behalf and please you.
I also wish the public cared more and called out creators and celebrities who exploit their fans’ negative behavior. When you are financially benefiting, ignorance is tantamount to exploitation.
Have a most fabulous day.
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