(Photo by Daria Nepriakhina via FreeRangeStock/CC 1.0 DEED)
Photos in this article are courtesy of Johana Bázlerová.
In September 2020, Johana Bázlerová left her hometown of Mladá Boleslav, a small city in the Czech Republic, to begin her university studies in Prague. At the start of the term, she was surprised by how little her secondary school had covered contemporary history and global affairs. Determined to fill these gaps, she began seeking out information independently by following international media outlets and actively consuming news through YouTube and podcasts.
Around that time, Bázlerová observed an absence of meaningful conversations about current events among her peers. Social media was evolving into a powerful space for news and civic engagement, especially with the rise of TikTok and Instagram Reels. Influential accounts, such as Shit You Should Care About, were making global issues more accessible and engaging, but digital activism had not yet caught on substantially in the Czech Republic. Sensing an opportunity, Bázlerová began designing and sharing infographics.
Graphic design became a means to connect with others who shared an interest in politics and culture. As many of us may recall, the COVID-19 pandemic upended life. This disruption prompted Bázlerová to withdraw from university and pursue her new passion. What started as a modest effort to spark thoughtful dialogue has since evolved into an influential platform with over 210,000 followers on her profile Jsem v Obraze. Using social media, Bázlerová promotes civic awareness and democratic values.
Institutions Engaging Younger Audiences and Creators
With the success of her platform, Bázlerová has been invited to participate in high-profile initiatives, such as NATO’s Protect the Future Program. The program engages young creators in democratic dialogue. It also showcases NATO’s role by giving them behind-the-scenes access to summits, meetings with senior officials, and important leaders, including Czech President Petr Pavel.
(President Pavel and Johana Bázlerová at the 2025 NATO Summit in Hague)
She has also been selected as a Digital European Union Ambassador, joining a community of creators, journalists, and influencers who promote digital and technological topics. The Commission selects ambassadors based on alignment with the initiative’s goals, values, and evolving priorities. While young people are frequently overlooked in political and civic engagement, these initiatives engage them meaningfully, not just as a box to be checked.
Opportunities Without Strings Attached
When asked whether institutional partnerships involve any form of censorship or content approval, Bázlerová offered a candid insight into the nature of these roles. She explained that institutions like the European Commission and NATO are embracing digital platforms to reach younger audiences and counter misinformation. These partnerships thrive on trust and openness. Organizations are now strategically prioritizing authenticity and decentralized storytelling, moving away from controlling the narrative. They value transparency and personal voice over polished messaging. By eliminating editorial oversight and constraints, these institutions encourage open discussions, positioning themselves as more accessible and responsive.
For creators like Bázlerová, this freedom allows for genuine engagement, where their content remains independent and reflects their own observations. These programs foster democratic interests by enabling the sharing of diverse positionalities. This model recognizes that influence is far more powerful when it stems from genuine collaboration rather than control, in contrast to authoritarian tendencies. As institutions compete with nefarious online actors, empowering credible voices without censorship may be one of their most effective tools.
The Cost of Integrity in the Creator Economy
While the programs mentioned earlier offer unique opportunities for content creators to share their experiences and learnings with special access to institutions, is that enough for those who engage responsibly in topics of geopolitics?
Until the end of 2024, Bázlerová balanced independently running her platform with a full-time job, stating, “It’s a one-woman show.” She has built partnerships with brands that align with her values, including campaigns focused on mental health, social media literacy, and sustainable period underwear. Her collaborations are chosen carefully, reflecting a commitment to authenticity rather than commercial gain. Yet, there are limitations to being a politically engaged creator in a market that favours lifestyle content and gimmicks.
Occasionally, when brands or companies reach out, the nature of their offers can be unsettling. One particularly dystopian example involved a clinic offering to freeze her eggs in exchange for five unpaid Instagram Reels. The clinic, she noted, may have been part of a network primarily owned by Czech oligarch Andrej Babiš. “They would only cover the gynecological operation and storage,” she recalled. When she did not respond, the clinic sent persistent, bothersome email reminders. Responding and providing feedback to these outlandish propositions requires significant emotional labour.
Social media blurs the boundaries between activism, journalism, and entertainment, prompting creators to inform and perform at the same time. Critics of powerful institutions may find themselves sidelined and not for lacking insight or rigour. They may experience exclusion from future opportunities, algorithms may deprioritize their content, and partnerships may dissolve. The very systems that promise openness and reach can become gatekeepers, subtly punishing those who push too hard. As a result, critical voices sometimes hesitate to speak out.
Bázlerová’s experience highlights the precarious balance between independence and feasibility in the creator economy, particularly for those who focus on political and social issues. Unlike lifestyle influencers who often benefit from a wide range of monetization options, political creators face limited sponsorship opportunities. Bázlerová’s refusal to compromise her values, even in the face of bizarre or exploitative offers, reflects her commitment to integrity.
Shift to Sustainability and Art as Balm for Burnout
When asked what would make political content creation more sustainable, Bázlerová acknowledged that the creator economy is shifting—and with it, her own approach to content. In the early stages of her platform, she focused almost exclusively on delivering information. Over time, she began incorporating more of herself into the content. She spoke candidly about her experience with depression, which initially made it difficult to appear in videos or share personal reflections.
She finds that the most helpful sponsorships are clear, supportive, and make the campaign process smoother. These collaborations ease logistical burdens and recognize the emotional labour behind socially conscious content-making. Ultimately, the overlooked aspect of digital activism is sustainability. Political creators do more than share information—they absorb, process, and respond to a constant stream of information and societal tensions. This work demands resilience. Without adequate support, it can lead to burnout and disengagement.
Now Bázlerová includes arts and culture in her work, such as sharing her observations during the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. This transition offers a reprieve from political reporting, creating another passion-driven outlet. “I still love helping people understand complex issues,” she said, “but it costs me more.” To maintain balance, she is incorporating more artistic and cultural content in her work. Her shift diversifies her content, protects her mental health and provides more venues to make content creation a viable career, thereby actually generating income.
Transparent, respectful, and genuine partnerships can play a vital role in advancing creators. As the creator economy continues to evolve, building structures that support both the person and the message will be key to ensuring that independent voices remain active, authentic, and impactful.
Gendered Barriers in Politics and the Media
Bázlerová stated bluntly, “If I were a man, I wouldn’t have half of the problems I have.” Her reflections reveal the gendered challenges that permeate traditional and digital political spaces. In the Czech Republic, she notes, female journalists face considerable obstacles. The work she does is frequently downplayed or dismissed, and she faces heightened scrutiny simply because she’s a woman. The lack of representation and support for women in political media contributes to a hostile environment in which visibility comes at the cost of vulnerability. Research shows that women in politics and public discourse disproportionately experience harassment and violence—both online and offline.
According to research by political scientist Rebecca Kuperberg, violence against women in politics (VAWIP) includes aggression, coercion, and intimidation aimed at excluding women from political life—whether as voters, activists, candidates, elected officials, etc. Political scientist Mona Lena Krook emphasizes that VAWIP remains a major barrier to women’s political participation, with rising reports of assault, intimidation, and abuse. Women in politics are increasingly exposed to insecurity in digital spaces. Despite the harassment and scrutiny, Bázlerová actively participates in political discourse as a personal commitment and a powerful challenge to the oppressive narratives aimed at silencing women.
“I’m political,” she says, “I don’t understand how someone cannot be political.” Recently, Jsem v Obraze and Monkey Studios launched a soft power collection that combines clothing with micro-activism and graphic design. One of the items in the collection says, “Oh, you’re not interested in politics? Well, politics is interested in you.” This is a modern paraphrasing of Pericles or even George Orwell, who warned against political apathy, especially in times of violence and authoritarianism. Another item says, “Hot people read the news.” As she navigates the hostile environment with determination, she’s proving that even amid adversity, she will stand firm in her political engagement.
Media Literacy in the Age of Influence
Bázlerová grapples with the implications of her role as a content creator in a space traditionally reserved for journalists. She emphasizes that creators like herself are not trained reporters, yet they increasingly serve as primary sources of information for people. “It’s a new field,” she explained. “It’s tricky with social media—who you follow and where you get your news.”
Algorithms create filter bubbles and echo chambers linked to polarization and extremism. As described in Building Awareness, Seeking Solutions: Extremism and Hate Motivated Violence in Alberta, written by John McCoy, David Jones, and Zoe Hastings, echo chambers are social or online environments where individuals engage with like-minded individuals or information that reinforces their existing views. Within these settings, “contending and differing opinions are policed, isolated and rejected.” Informational isolation limits exposure to diverse perspectives and deepens ideological divides.
Bázlerová’s experience shows the paradox of influence in the digital age. Political content creators occupy a space that blends journalism, activism, and entertainment, without the institutional protections or formal training. Creators are left to navigate complex ethical terrain. Aware of its limitations and risks, Bázlerová is concerned about the normalization of social media as a primary news source. “People around the world get their news from social media. I don’t feel it should be this way,” she said.
In October 2025, China announced a new regulation for influencers in the country who share content. Influencers must submit their certifications, degrees, or credentials and demonstrate that they possess the appropriate expertise to publish scientifically and academically sound information on medicine, law, education, or finance. While this policy may be viewed as censorship, it does address legitimate concerns about content creators spreading misinformation.
Media literacy is essential amid the ongoing rise of misinformation and the decline in trust in traditional reporting. As social media shapes how many people consume news, it becomes key for audiences to critically assess sources and differentiate between credible journalism and clickbait. Failure to do so threatens democratic discourse. Bázlerová has proven that you do not need a degree or formal education to be politically engaged or well-informed. We should all strive to be lifelong learners, especially in the face of democratic decline.
Young Voices Shaping Global Dialogue
Feeling jaded by the state of global affairs, Bázlerová decided to return to academia to pursue Peace and Conflict Studies in Sweden. This next chapter is about gaining the tools to navigate the state of the world and find ways forward. Bázlerová’s pivot will deepen her understanding of world affairs, enabling her to contribute to the betterment of society from a more informed perspective and continue to redefine what influence can look like in the digital age. This is just the beginning of what Bázlerová has to offer the world.
Edited by Isaac Code
