Staff at a Creator Network
Uplift’s Creator / Fan Relationships Series
As online platforms grow and change, the potential relationships between creators and fans do as well. This is part of our series on best practices for navigating these relationships. (Catch up on the previous parts)
If you’re on staff at a creator network (like a MCN, a platform working closely with creators, etc), prevent issues by proactively educating your creators.
Internet celebrity is a brave new world and people do not innately know how to handle the increased attention and idealization that comes with it. Particularly if your organization is making a conscious effort to bring certain creators into the spotlight, it is important to ensure that those people understand what constitutes appropriate behavior. Teach your creators how consent operates both on- and off-line, how to establish healthy boundaries with fans, and how to interact with their peers.
Uplift staff can provide trainings and other consulting work to your organization on this topic. We believe strongly in the need for widespread implementation of these types of trainings, and can work with you to ensure the cost fits within your budget. Email contactus@uplifttogether.org to learn more.
Create, maintain, and enforce a comprehensive code of conduct.
This is essential. By clearly outlining what behavior is inappropriate and how that line will be enforced, you empower your organization to effectively respond to any issues that arise. Learn more about how to create a code of conduct from our resource.
An Uplift representative can review your code of conduct or incident response plan and provide specific suggestions for improvement so it is clear, promotes safety, and is specific to your community. We can advise you as you create easily understandable and comprehensive policies. Email contactus@uplifttogether.org to learn more.
Take allegations of misconduct seriously.
If somebody is speaking out about the harmful behavior of a prominent creator, they are doing so at risk to themselves. Consistently, there is a huge backlash from fans towards anyone who comes forward against their favorite creator. Those coming forward are subject to hurtful messages, bullying, and even doxxing — on top of the stigma all survivors of assault or abuse face as they are blamed for their own trauma. This, out of the gate, makes it less likely that allegations of misconduct are false.
Additionally, when it comes to sexual assault, the best data concludes that only 2% — 8% of all reported rapes and sexual assaults are false accusations, which is similar to other crimes. Keep in mind, this is reported assaults, not all of them. Sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the United States, so that distinction is a big deal.
If you create and maintain a comprehensive code of conduct, you will have concrete steps you can take to ensure these difficult situations are handled empathetically and fairly.
More information about What is Sexual Assault and False Accusations can be found on our YouTube channel.
As online communities evolve and your organization evolves, stay vigilant to adapt to the changing atmosphere. Continue regular trainings and reevaluate your policies and procedures on a regular basis and when issues come to light. As leaders in the industry, you have an important role to play in improving online safety.
Coming soon in part 5: the role convention staff play in healthy online communities
Catch up on part 1: Creator/Fan Relationships, part 2: Creator responsibility, part 3: Fans of Well-Known Creators
Uplift is dedicated to combatting sexual violence in online fandom spaces through education and advocacy. Find more at uplifttogether.org
