tech
December 28, 2025
From that bird guy to ‘bus aunty’: the real social media personalities rising above AI slop
Online audiences seeking out authentic and passionate voices as antidote to AI-generated content
TL;DR
- Everyday creators with niche passions are gaining popularity on platforms like TikTok.
- Users are increasingly seeking authentic content as a response to AI-generated material.
- Examples include a gardening pensioner, an autistic young man and his mother, a bus enthusiast, and bird watchers.
- TikTok's algorithm is noted for prioritizing relevance over celebrity, benefiting lesser-known creators.
- Audiences are showing fatigue with overly polished content, driving a shift towards more genuine creators.
- Popular creators have seen their lives positively impacted, including new job opportunities.
- Unlikely creator hits also include singing twins, a veteran sharing post-army life and culture, and an 84-year-old baker.
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