A young Perth content creator who spent his teenage years homeless says that social media platforms gave him a lifeline and a career, but recent government restrictions are now putting his livelihood at serious risk.
From the Streets to the Screen
Known online as Homeless Entertainment, 18-year-old Western told PerthNow that he became homeless at the age of 13 and lived on the streets until he was 17. During that difficult period, and in the years since, he says social media provided a crucial sense of purpose and community.
"I can fully say with confidence that social media has saved my life countless times," Western stated. He explained that even before creating content, he used online platforms to find support groups, helping him cope with bullying and isolation during his youth.
His journey into content creation eventually allowed him to earn an income through TikTok, which he used to buy a trailer to live in.
A Dramatic Drop in Views and Income
Western's primary income came from livestreams on TikTok, where he was earning between $100 and $400 per week. However, his financial situation has collapsed since the federal government's ban on social media access for children under 16 came into effect on December 10 last year.
He reported that his livestream viewership plummeted from between 100,000 and 800,000 views to as low as 500 views almost overnight. "I've stopped being paid, I'm now struggling to get food and stuff like that," he said.
The creator estimates that 50 to 60 per cent of his audience was under 16. While a large portion of his followers are adults, he notes it was the younger users who were the most active in engaging with and sharing his videos, which explains the severe impact on his reach.
A Call for Platform Accountability, Not User Bans
Western's criticism of the policy is nuanced. He isn't opposed to protecting young people online but believes the government's approach targets the wrong group.
"I think instead of forcing these younger people to get off social media for their protection, we should have gone to the social media platforms themselves," he argued. He advocates for forcing platforms to ban addictive features, improve content moderation, and prevent adult content from appearing in children's feeds.
He emphasised the value of online communities for vulnerable youth, saying, "I feel like the youth should have the option to find support groups like that."
Looking ahead, Western aspires to become one of Australia's major content creators while staying grounded and connected to his community. "I want to be the people's streamer... I want to be the person people can look to and be like, he's just one of us," he said.
