North West jobseekers turn to social media to make a living
Instead, social media has become an alternative source of income.
The North-West province of South Africa has consistently faced high unemployment rates. Due to the scarcity of job opportunities, many individuals, particularly women, have abandoned the conventional job search in favor of alternative means of income generation. Social media platforms have emerged as a viable option for some, as they leverage their everyday life skills and experiences to monetize their content and support their basic needs.
Boitumelo Mzingaye, a content creator based in Mahikeng, emphasizes the potential of social media to provide a source of income for the unemployed. Mzingaye explains that she has successfully monetized her social media platform, primarily showcasing her family life and lifestyle. She states, "I monetized my page, my platform, social media platform, about my family.
I somehow earn money from it. And I do make a good profit from it." Mzingaye highlights that this approach is particularly beneficial for those with access to smartphones, stating, "You can also. As long as you have your phone with you, you can use that to your advantage, and you don’t need to be fancy."
Mzingaye challenges the traditional notion of content creation, which once required a specific physical appearance and lifestyle. She asserts that any individual, regardless of their circumstances, can capitalize on social media to generate income. She adds, "Whatever you have, you can make money out of it. And it will, it will ease up the stress of your unemployment, of the high rate, of this high rate of unemployment."
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
