Dhar Mann Studios Accused of Cultivating âCulture of FearâCREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER
Issue #115 | Mar. 9, 2023
In this weekâs highlighted story, weâre exploring viral protests which began in February 2023 against Dhar Mann Studios, a YouTube empire with over 17 million subscribers.
In interviews with Passionfruit, four actors and creators who worked for the YouTube channel accused the company of not providing what they deem a fair wage; inadequate food and water on set; having 10-hour work days for child actors; conducting a âsmear campaignâ against them in the wake of their protests; and of perpetuating a âculture of fearâ in the workplace that led to actors feeling silenced. A representative for Dhar Mann Studios also spoke with Passionfruit, vehemently denying all of these claims.
What unfolded illuminates what can happen when a YouTuber transforms into a full-blown media company and the potential perils that follow.
â Grace Stanley, Newsletter Editor
THE DARK SIDE
Dhar Mann actors allege âculture of fearâ underpinning YouTube empire
Four actors spoke with Passionfruit about their protests against the YouTube empire Dhar Mann Studios.
By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor
SPONSORED
Filming yourself has never been easier
Meet SwitchPod: the minimal, versatile handheld tripod. SwitchPod works with any camera, from a phone to a DSLR, and simplifies video making for creators. Lightweight and nearly indestructible, the mini tripod makes it easy to travel to awesome locations for the ultimate photo or video shoots.
ONE GREAT TIP
âBatch filming saves you so much stress. We started 2023 with two episodes already filmed and spent January/February filming 9 more. We essentially have hours of content already in the can and donât have to scramble for interviews anymore.â
âThe creators behind The Editing Podcast on the biggest lesson theyâve learned in 2023.
THE HIGHLIGHT
5 Womenâs History TikTokers to follow this International Womenâs Day
With hundreds of thousands of years worth of ground to cover, here are just a few of the creators bringing untold womenâs histories to light.
By Eve Upton-Clark, Passionfruit Contributor
TIPS AND TRICKS
How a hobby turned into a career: TikTok chef Alejandra Tapia on her rapid rise as a food creator
Alejandra Tapia, also known as @nanajoe19, discusses how she gained and monetized her following on TikTok.
By Adrienne Hunter, Passionfruit Contributor
IN THE BIZ
- SXSW kicks off on Mar. 10 in Austin, Texas.
- The Streamer Awards take place on Mar. 11 in Los Angeles.
- Discord introduced new AI features.
- Spotifyâs CEO teased a TikTok-like visual feed.
- Patreon announced two new executive hires.
- YouTube is dialing back its controversial profanity policy. (via Tubefilter)
- Facebook and Instagram are pausing Reels bonus payouts. (via Insider)
- Reddit is separating its feeds for âreadingâ and âwatching.â (via Tubefilter)
- TikTokers are discussing what they might charge for paywalled content on the platform. (via Insider)
TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT
By popular creator demand, you can now use the green screen filter with other filters!
