The use of social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram has increased globally with the advancement of technology. Beyond personal use, many have now become professional content creators due to the monetisation opportunities on these platforms. Some have even achieved self-reliance through this. However, many have become addicted to the pursuit of “views”.
This obsession has led some YouTubers or content creators to repeatedly engage in irresponsible and careless behaviour that draws public criticism. Just as they publish private moments of their personal lives without any sense of judgement, they also descend on scenes of accidents, fires, or natural disasters with gross irresponsibility. Their disruptive presence severely hampers rescue efforts and causes significant obstacles for professional journalists in news gathering. Mainstream media professionals and stakeholders now consider this a “serious problem”.
The recent crash of a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet at Milestone School and College in Uttara, Dhaka, has brought the disturbances caused by YouTubers and content creators into sharp focus. Due to the crowding of workers from minor media outlets, YouTubers, content creators, and curious onlookers, rescue operations were disrupted, and mainstream media professionals faced great difficulty collecting news. Law enforcement had to resort to multiple baton charges to disperse YouTubers, content creators, and onlookers involved in the competition for views. Mainstream reporters and photojournalists were also injured in the process. Despite this, the irresponsible YouTubers could not be removed. Driven solely by the desire for views, they broadcast grotesque images and videos of the injured and burned without any regard for rules or ethics and spread misinformation, including misleading casualty figures. As a result, many essential pieces of information, photos, and videos could not be gathered by mainstream journalists.
What are the YouTubers and content creators doing?
It is not just the Milestone tragedy—YouTubers and content creators rush to the scene of any major accident or crisis. Ignoring the sensitivity of the incident, they often present even the most horrific accidents as entertainment. They publish photos or videos—live or recorded—of children or women who have been victims of rape, abuse, or harassment. During fire incidents, they sit with microphones in front of fire service workers. Some even get dangerously close to fire or hazardous areas while filming, risking serious harm. They enter cordoned-off security zones under various pretexts.
In March, the rape and murder of a child in Magura stirred nationwide outrage. The accused were tried in a speedy tribunal. At the time, YouTubers and content creators produced a large volume of video content using images of the child and her family. When this came to attention, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of the child’s photos from social media.
Not just the Milestone or Magura incidents—across various incidents and accidents, the view-driven irresponsibility of YouTubers and content creators is creating disorder in society and causing professional journalists considerable discomfort and frustration.
A reporter from a national daily told Banglanews that the disorganised crowd of YouTubers makes it extremely difficult for them to gather news. Often, they begin filming victims or eyewitnesses without seeking consent, which is against journalistic ethics. This shameless behaviour not only hampers journalism but also disturbs the psychological well-being of the victims.
Regarding this, Piyas Sarkar, a journalist with the daily Manabzamin, told Banglanews that digitalisation is a natural progression, and it is normal that the number of YouTubers has increased in recent years. He views this growth positively. However, the problem lies in the fact that in pursuit of views, they do not follow any written or unwritten rules. The worst part is filming without permission. Even the fact that someone did not wear a helmet becomes their content. Particularly during accidents such as the Milestone tragedy, they act recklessly and cause more harm than curious bystanders. Rather than attempting to control them, it would be more effective to train them on written and unwritten rules.
According to stakeholders, the majority of these YouTubers or content creators do not know how to present content appropriately; how to treat the victims of incidents; or the ethical standards for publishing their statements and testimonies.
Media analysts argue that while the rise of social media has made independent content creation easier, it also raises questions of ethics and standards. In the absence of any policy for those producing “news-oriented content” without professional training in journalism or information gathering, chaos and disorder are being created.
What experts are saying
According to journalists and media experts, the new medium of “content” emerging on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook could become a threat to society if it continues to operate without ethics or responsibility.
Khorshed Alam, Associate Professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka, said that in any crisis, YouTubers and independent channel operators now crowd the scene alongside journalists. The main motivation, he said, is to advance their own digital media ventures. These individuals open personal channels and create content as they wish. Under the guise of being journalists, they gain access to various locations. Their unprofessional behaviour disrupts the work of mainstream journalists. It is the responsibility of the authorities to address this problem.
Speaking to Banglanews, Md Shatil Siraj, Associate Professor in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Rajshahi University, said that whenever an incident occurs in Bangladesh, such a crowd of curious onlookers gathers that it becomes difficult for journalists to work. Nowadays, so many individuals arrive under the banner of unknown or obscure media outlets or organisations that it is often impossible to determine whether they are even professional journalists.
Shatil Siraj believes there is no easy solution to this issue. He noted that professional journalists work according to ethical standards and a certain process, which curious onlookers and YouTubers do not follow. They are unaware of a journalist’s responsibilities and duties. As a result, they often create significant obstacles during news gathering.
Recommending that the relevant authorities take steps to resolve the issue, Shatil Siraj said law enforcement or officials must ensure that, during any incident, individuals other than professional journalists do not create disruptions. While there is a need for content creation on YouTube or citizen journalism, there is also a flip side. If guidelines are developed in this regard, then just as mainstream journalists work according to existing laws, others would be guided as well. However, this does not mean they should be completely controlled.
However, Professor Dr Md Mozammel Hossain Bakul, Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Rajshahi University, believes this problem cannot be solved simply by passing laws or issuing guidelines. Instead, he emphasised the need to instil ethics and moral values from childhood.
Speaking to Banglanews, Dr Mozammel Hossain Bakul said the growth of social media in Bangladesh has occurred through individuals who lack media literacy and have no access to social media literacy. In other words, they have limited understanding of how media should be used. Due to the absence of effective content filtering on social platforms, they have no idea how to use these tools properly. They treat the platforms purely as a business for views. As a result, journalists engaged in traditional journalism face significant hardship. This was clearly seen again after the plane crash at Milestone School and College. Because of them, professional media workers could not properly collect news, and rescue workers struggled to carry out their efforts.
He added that this problem cannot be solved overnight. Because when we attempt to bring social media freedom under a framework, there will be accusations of restricting freedom of expression. That would be wrong. The correct approach is to raise awareness among the public. Users must develop a sense of understanding, which is not possible without proper education. The country’s education system currently does not foster basic awareness. This work must begin at the school level.
Mozammel Hossain Bakul said that as a nation, Bangladeshis are becoming increasingly intolerant and lacking in conscience. To address the root of this issue, we must start at the primary school level. In Japan and other countries, small children are taught moral and ethical values in school—how to serve their country, be responsible for their own tasks, and how to treat others. These lessons go beyond textbook education. In the past, these values were taught in schools here too, but that tradition has now decayed.
He added, “When we can build a citizenry by teaching young children ethics and morality, they will develop an understanding of what is appropriate and what is not. This cannot be achieved by passing laws or putting things into a rigid framework. The bottom line is that we must develop a sense of judgment and conscience. For that, we need good education. If we start from the beginning, we will cultivate a better generation. Then they will not act without discernment.”
What the authorities are thinking
The nuisance caused by YouTubers and content creators has also drawn the attention of the government. On Monday (July 28), Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam issued a warning to them during a press conference.
He said, “There are certain rules for collecting news. You (YouTubers) must follow those rules. Otherwise, we will be forced to issue directives for you in the future. We saw this issue during the Milestone incident. We respect your right to engage in journalism. But often, you (YouTubers) do not apply even a minimum level of sense. As a result, those who genuinely collect news face serious difficulties. Please be mindful of this. If possible, educate yourselves through training on the rules and regulations of news collection. This is a very important matter. In many cases, this causes disruptions during disaster response. We urge you to take this seriously.”
