Ten types of content creators in Kenya

Ten types of content creators in Kenya (Photo: iStock)

With the rise of social media platforms, personalities have exploded — from TikTok trends to YouTube channels, actors to major brand ambassadors. Over time, the allure of fame and exposure drives many to pursue this work professionally, adopting the titles of content creator or social media influencer. Here are ten types you’ll find in Kenya.

1. The Miss Goody Two Shoes

She is always nice, perhaps even more so than Mother Teresa, in front of the camera, looking polished and charming in photos and social media stories. But behind closed doors, she reveals a different side—a true devil when interacting with fans one-on-one. There are chilling accounts of her shouting at a waitress in a restaurant and demanding to be treated as special in every situation.

2. Pretenders

When they are in front of their fellow creators, they put on a supportive and useful facade. They have all the plugs for top-notch videographers and the latest photographers in town, yet they are still the same ones who leak information to vloggers and gossip pages through pseudo-accounts. They will divulge someone’s address and even important dates, like weddings or birthdays, of their fellow creators.

3. One taking advantage of the situation

They will date a fellow creator or someone in the limelight to take advantage of free things, be it photoshoots, editing or even gaining new followers. This type will also hang around established creators at events hoping to leverage their fame to attract more followers.

4. The Low Key Ones

These individuals have money or are married to it, and they never flaunt their wealth. They are selective about the brands they work with. Some might say they are either very selective or quite picky but they maintain a low-key vibe about their possessions. They won’t even post about travelling business class or share the details of their entire trip to Paris.

5. The Wannabe Rich

They have little to their name except a massive following on social media, yet they still look down on people. They often flaunt fake designer products they cannot truly afford, embodying the mantra “fake it till you make it.” They have had falling outs with all the photography services in town for not living up to their end of the bargain. 

6. The Mysterious Ones

Even though they are celebrities, public figures or influencers, they tend to keep their lives private. You might only find out about their marriage or the birth of a baby months later. They may buy the latest car, but you won’t see them making a fuss about it online.

7. The Struggling Ones

Procrastination is their middle name, as they constantly grapple with consistency. They only seem to reemerge when they have deliverables for big brands, then they will re-appear with apologies for why and where they have been for the past five months. Keeping up with the latest trends is a real challenge for them, and their followers have grown accustomed to their erratic presence.

8. Clout Chasers

They blow everything out of proportion, always diving into social media fights with fiery captions aimed at targeting fellow creators. They rely on click baits to attract viewers to their mediocre content. You won't go a week without seeing them on IG gossip pages, often having leaked their own “tea’’ through fake accounts.

9. The Business Minded Ones

Thanks to their massive following, they believe that everything they touch turns to gold. Despite launching numerous businesses, both online and physical, they often end up closing them for various reasons.  

10. The Copycats

They will do anything to mimic others, even if it’s beyond their reach, just because they have seen someone else do it. Many lack a clear niche online. You can trust them to hop on every trend with little to no creativity of their own.