Viral sensations
IF YOU COULD PICK ONE SOCIAL MEDIA APPLICATION TO USE FOR A LIFETIME, WHICH WILL IT BE?
It would be Instagram because it’s an easy application to use and I can update all of my interesting day-to-day activities (visually) without much editing. Instagram users are also more relatable because they are young and hip in general.
Same with me. I love Instagram because it’s similar to this social video sharing application called Vines. It’s actustarted ally how I got with social media and where I met Luqman too. When Instagram introduced its square video feature, everyone just shifted from other applications because it has everything. I mean, who doesn’t love an app with multiple social media functions?
INFLUENCERS ARE OFTEN VIEWED WITH CERTAIN PREJUDICE, HOW DO YOU
HOPE TO CHANGE THAT?
By making it known that we are brand strategists/ content creators — at least that’s what I personally am trying to showcase to my followers. Why shouldn’t the public — who is already digitally inclined — take us more seriously? For me, support does not necessarily have to come in monetary format. Having people simply appreciating our social media efforts is enough.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHALLENGES THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHILE MAKING A NAME THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA?
Apart from convincing sceptics about our potential, putting out content that can resonate well with our audience is a challenge on its own. In this line of social media, criticism comes from every direction regardless if what you are doing is good or bad. You will find it hard to navigate around if your mind and emotions are weak.
You have to be thick-skinned if you want to be successful on social media because there will always be haters. People not only need time to understand where you are coming from, but also to get used with the tricks and trade of digital media.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU BOTH UPLOAD VIDEOS AND WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS?
We try our best to put out at least one video a week. When it comes to ideas, everything is random. I don’t really think or strategise that much on the kind of videos I want to put out.
Based on experience, the most wellreceived video ideas are always those that Luqman Podolski (right) and Adib Alexx. are done spontaneously and in a comical/ light manner.
DO YOU EVER MISS THE SIMPLE
LIFE — BACK WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA WASN’T BOOMING AND WHEN
HAVING FOLLOWERS WEREN’T A THING YET?
All the time. We do miss it but to disregard the life that we have now — although we are still young and still learning — would mean that we are being ungrateful with the support that we get from those that brought us to where we are today.
However, we do need that balance between the real world and virtual reality. The best way to take a breather is by chilling with our friends, if not each other, outside social media.
ARE YOU ALSO CLOSE WITH OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITIES APART FROM EACH OTHER?
Not really. We don’t really hang out with other influencers. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important to maintain good relations with our peers but we value our privacy. I think it also grants us the right to think and create on our own as well.
MOVING FURTHER INTO THE DIGITAL REALM, WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP?
On social media, both of us actually exist as separate entities. It’s just that you always see us collaborating in videos. I guess that is why peotend ple to think we are a duo.
We are probably going to venture into creating a YouTube channel together — something like JinnyboyTV maybe — but more curated and focused as a Malay medium.
We will still probably do random comedies. Other than that, there are definitely big plans coming our way but right now, we are not catching any deadlines just yet. We’re just living in the moment and enjoying it as we go along.
HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY CHANGED THE WORLD?
It has made communicamore tion seamless and fast. The phrase having the world at your fingertips is already starting to feel like an understatement with the amount of information and innovation the digital age is bringing.
However the downside is that people are not yet smart enough to balance their digital habits. Ironically it has made us feel more disconnected (emotionally) with each in the real world — people today are too dependent on their smartphones to engage in conversations.
Having people simply appreciating our social media efforts is enough.