Social Media Influencers Figure Out How To Work During The Hollywood Strike

TV & Film

Jul 31

Once the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) officially went on strike in mid-July, all sorts of work was halted. In a vein of work many may not have considered at first, social media influencers have been impacted by the strike as well. Those who center their content around Hollywood are in a bit of a pickle with how to proceed and what the future looks like for the time being.

Influencers can be represented by the union, making them members who can fall under penalty if they work with struck studios. While current contracted work should be completed, the union said that “influencers should not accept any new work for the promotion of struck companies or their content.” This makes sense regarding the strike, as completing new work gives leverage and promotional labor to the studios. The financial burden this can cause the influencer is a valid concern and a difficult piece to work through.

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Popular TikTok creator Joe Aragon flipped his content focus when the strike began, going from Hollywood reports and movie reviews to popular topics unrelated to Hollywood, even joining the picket line a few times. Aragon broke the situation down from his perspective, explaining (via The Hollywood Reporter), “Strikes are supposed to be inconvenient; I am inconvenienced but so are the people who are making these movies. It only feels fair that I’m with them and trying to get things done with them.” Other influencers are following suit, taking into account their current audiences and the algorithms for each platform they are on to switch their content up for the time being.

The future is something to consider as well. Influencers who are not members at this time but would want to join in the future have to consider the work they accept now. The union warns non-members “seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA performs covered work or services for a struck company during the strike” will be ineligible for future membership. The verification process for this has not been specified. There is also a question of damaged relationships with these companies following the strike, and if work will pick back up; this cannot be answered until the situation presents itself.

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