Multi-hyphenate creator and social influencer Ben De Almeida chatted about his latest endeavors, which include his “Benoftheweek” YouTube channel and “Nick News.”
De Almeida expressed his support for the American non-profit advocacy organization Gen-Z for Change, and his love for fashion. De Almeida opened up about being a content creator in the digital age.
‘Benoftheweek’
De Almeida is one of the biggest content creators and personalities on social media, accumulating over 11 million followers on TikTok and five million subscribers on YouTube with his comedic video content.
“It has been good, and that’s what has been occupying my last 10 years, and it’s crazy to have this YouTube channel that has blossomed to podcasting and so many more aspects of media,” he said.
‘Nick News’
He will soon be taking his major success from social media onto the small screen as he joins Nickelodeon’s revamped version of “Nick News” this spring as a correspondent. “It has been crazy to be able to dip into traditional media. I think there is such a good opportunity for kids to have this new version of television, which is more in sync of how the Internet is,” he said.
“Nick News” is a platform to inform and inspire young people by highlighting their voices in conversation as they address the most current national and global events.
“For so many kids, what they see online is so different than what is published on TV. To have ‘Nick News’ as an actual kid-focused show is really awesome,” he said.
The goal of “Nick News” is really in line with Ben’s personal brand as he’ll be discussing relevant topics of today’s world events to a younger audience in a direct way that remains entertaining. They aim to ensure kids are given a platform to voice their opinions and a safe place to question the world.
‘Drama Mama’ podcast
He also recently launched his popular podcast “Drama Mama” with Studio71, where he recaps his wildest adventures, near death experiences, and travel in addition to sharing his views with listeners.
“The podcast has been fun,” he admitted. “It is literally about having fun about whatever topic I want to talk about, and I just let loose. I have been able to cover some really interesting pieces in Internet history and Internet drama culture.”
The digital age
On being a social influencer in the digital age, De Almeida said, “Being an influencer has changed so much, even in the last three years. What we would think as an influencer in 2019 is completely different than what it is in 2023.”
“When I started, so much of social media is about creativity (and that’s the beating heart of it) but now there is more about the business side that people are getting into. You see so many creators launching their own lines of products and they are getting into areas of media that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to be possible in 2019. It has been cool to see it grow and mature,” he elaborated.
Career-defining moment: The Streamy Awards
He shared that a career-defining moment for him was being nominated for “Breakout Creator” at The Streamy Awards.
“That was mind-blowing,” he said. “I never really take that much time to take a step back and look at where I am in the social media world but that was a realization moment. That really inspired me to try to make that title worth it, because I have imposter syndrome sometimes. I used that to motivate myself,” he acknowledged.
Gen-Z for Change supporter
A huge advocate to using his platform for good, De Almeida is an avid supporter of the Gen-Z for Change organization, where he lends his voice to encourage and mobilize civic participation, shift the political debate, and enact change. “They are this great organization,” he said. “They started off as Gen-Z for Biden, and they were very instrumental in getting the Gen-Z vote out. Now, they cover all sorts of topics and issues that pertain to Gen-Z people, they are just a great group of people.”
On the title of the current chapter of his life, he said, “Growing.”
A passion for fashion
He noted that fashion is his passion in life. He recently attended the Dior x ERL fashion show in Los Angeles, and as a result, he is working with many fashion brands.
“That fashion show was so cool,” he admitted. “They did it in Venice, and they shut down the main promenade, and they did this beautiful show. Being a part of that was super cool, especially to witness that firsthand. Seeing all of the creative minds in the fashion world in-person is so sick,” he said.
Orlando Creator Meetup event
He spoke about being a part of the Orlando Creator Meetup event, which he hosted with Nick Tangorra a few years back. “That was so fun. We got to meet all of these different creators from the Central Florida area. I met so many cool people that are my friends to this day from that. There was so much content being filmed there, it was insane,” he recalled.
Advice for hopefuls
For young and aspiring content creators, De Almeida said, “Find what you truly enjoy doing. Genuinely, you have to find something that you wouldn’t mind doing over and over again, or sharing with the world multiple times. So just find things that you enjoy that you want to share with the world.”
Nathan Fielder
He shared that he would love to someday work with world-renowned actor, comedian, and entrepreneur Nathan Fielder. “I am super inspired by Nathan, I think he is a genius and so happy,” he said.
Success
On his definition of success, De Almeida said, “Being able to do what I love and share it with people. I’ve already been able to have a lot of experiences with that, and that makes me super happy.”
Fans
For his fans, De Almeida said, “I think I have some of the funniest and most loyal fans and subscribers, I call them my ‘mamas.’ They have been so patient with me and so receptive with me when I try new things online such as making a documentary. They are just truly the best and they have my back whenever I’m feeling down.”
To learn more about social media phenom Benjamin De Almeida, follow him on Instagram and on TikTok.
