Trade Winds Magazine Volume 8
The Internet Runs on Small Creators: Why Persistence Matters More Than Virality
By Abu Hudhayfah Edwards
The internet has a strange way of measuring value.
A video with a million views is considered important.
A video with a few hundred views is often ignored.
A creator with hundreds of thousands of followers is called influential.
A creator with a few hundred followers is called “small.”
But the truth is that the internet does not run on celebrities.
It runs on ordinary people.
It runs on teachers, librarians, fathers, mothers, community leaders, hobbyists, local historians, storytellers, and everyday creators who continue showing up long after the excitement of chasing fame has faded.
One creator who recently reminded me of this reality is a TikTok creator known as Dawud Da Dude.
At first glance, there is nothing particularly flashy about his content.
No luxury lifestyle.
No outrageous stunts.
No manufactured controversy.
Instead, his page is filled with reminders, reflections, observations about life, memories from previous generations, encouragement, and the occasional product promotion.
Some videos receive a few dozen likes.
Others receive a few hundred.
A few break beyond that.
To many people, these numbers seem insignificant.
But I would argue they reveal something far more important.
They reveal consistency.
And consistency is one of the rarest commodities on the internet.
More Than a Creator
As I scrolled through his content, something became clear.
Dawud Da Dude is not simply producing videos.
He is occupying a role.
A role that has become increasingly rare online.
He is functioning as a fatherly figure.
Not necessarily because he is giving direct parenting advice.
Not because he claims any special authority.
But because his content reflects something many people are searching for:
Guidance.
Perspective.
Experience.
Calm reminders.
The internet is overflowing with people eager to provoke outrage.
Dawud appears more interested in provoking reflection.
There is value in that.
A great deal of value.
The Algorithm Learns From Us
One of the biggest misunderstandings about social media is the belief that algorithms somehow operate independently from people.
They do not.
Algorithms learn from human behavior.
Every like.
Every follow.
Every comment.
Every share.
Every second spent watching.
These actions teach platforms what we want more of.
If millions of people engage with conflict, division, and sensationalism, the algorithm learns to provide more conflict, division, and sensationalism.
If people engage with positive reminders, beneficial discussions, educational content, and community-building efforts, the algorithm learns that those things matter too.
The algorithm is a student.
The public is the teacher.
Building the Internet We Want
Many parents today express concern about the internet their children are inheriting.
And often, those concerns are justified.
But creating a better internet is not solely the responsibility of technology companies.
It is also the responsibility of communities.
If we want our children to encounter beneficial content, we must actively support the people creating it.
That support does not always require money.
Sometimes it is as simple as:
* Following a creator.
* Liking a post.
* Leaving a positive comment.
* Sharing beneficial content.
* Encouraging others to do the same.
Small actions multiplied by thousands of people can dramatically change what platforms promote.
The Perseverance Nobody Sees
Perhaps the most important lesson from creators like Dawud Da Dude is perseverance.
Most people only see the final result.
They do not see the hundreds of posts that received little attention.
They do not see the days when motivation disappeared.
They do not see the effort required to continue creating when growth seems slow.
Yet every successful creator eventually arrives at the same crossroads:
Quit or continue.
Most quit.
The creators who eventually find their audience are often the ones who simply refused to stop.
Not because success was guaranteed.
Because they believed the work itself was worthwhile.
The Quiet Builders
History tends to remember the giants.
But every community is sustained by quieter builders.
The people who consistently show up.
The people who encourage others.
The people who provide beneficial reminders.
The people who help create healthy spaces without demanding recognition.
Creators like Dawud Da Dude remind us that influence is not always measured by follower counts.
Sometimes influence is measured by the number of people who needed to hear a reminder on a difficult day.
Sometimes it is measured by the young person who sees a positive example online.
Sometimes it is measured by consistency over years rather than popularity in a single moment.
The internet runs on these people.
And if we want a cleaner, healthier, and more beneficial online world for our children, then we cannot simply complain about what the algorithm promotes.
We must actively support the creators who are building the kind of internet we hope future generations will inherit.
Because every like, every follow, and every share is a vote for the internet we want to see tomorrow.
Follow and support positive creators. The algorithm is always watching and learning from us. The question is: What are we teaching it?