Recently, , CEO of Grupo Meta, announced that the fact-checking service will be discontinued on its main platforms: , and . The justification? Freedom of expression. Hours later, Brazil’s Federal Public Ministry reacted, demanding clarification on the application of the measure in the country. Although the political and social impact of this decision is evident, the focus here will be different: the economic and professional career implications for those who directly depend on these platforms.
The central question is simple: Does your profession — or your main source of income — depend exclusively on a digital platform? If the answer is “yes”, it’s time to rethink your professional path.
The dependence that limits
In recent years, we have seen the rise of professions that completely depend on digital platforms: Instagram traffic managers, digital influencers, tiktokers, AWS analysts, drivers for apps like Uber, among others. While these careers have brought innovation and new opportunities, they also expose great vulnerability. When a platform changes its rules, policies or algorithms, an entire chain of professionals can be affected — and, in many cases, irreversibly.
This contrasts with more traditional professions such as doctors, engineers, nurses, programmers, DPOs and network administrators. These professionals, although they can use specific tools, have their expertise based on technologies and techniques that transcend platforms or manufacturers. They have greater autonomy to adapt to changes in the market, maintaining the essence of their operations.
What do we learn from this?
The main lesson we can draw from this scenario is the search for professional independence. Dependence on specific platforms or manufacturers limits your growth potential and exposes your career to unnecessary risks.
For example, instead of defining yourself as a “youtuber”, how about adopting the identity of videomaker? Instead of “influencer”, why not “sales promoter”? These changes are not merely semantic — they represent a transition in mindset: from dependent to independent.
Furthermore, it is essential to invest in skills that can be applied broadly, regardless of specific platforms. The diversification of skills guarantees more security in an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable job market.
The risk of poor content
This reflection also leads us to another important point: the quality of the content we consume and produce. Today, there is a flood of simplistic or even irrelevant content, especially on social media. This trend is very well represented in the film “Idiocracy”which portrays a society addicted to shallow entertainment.
The question is: would people who make a living exclusively from “being funny” on social media be able to migrate to other platforms or even TV and maintain their relevance? This shows how important it is to build a solid career, based on real skills and not just the ephemerality of the moment.
Two basic tips for gaining professional independence
- Don’t lock yourself into a single manufacturer or platform: expand your knowledge and learn to work with different tools and technologies. The greater your adaptability, the greater your professional security.
- “If your profession depends on a platform, you don’t have a profession, you have a prison.” Diversify your skills and position yourself as a professional capable of working in different scenarios.
Watch the video below in which I discuss this topic in more detail:
See this photo on Instagram
Final reflection
Grupo Meta’s decision to close its fact-checking service is a powerful reminder that digital platforms are subject to constant, often abrupt, change. Control over these platforms is out of the hands of their users. Therefore, building a solid and independent professional career is not just a strategic choice — it is a matter of survival.
If you depend on one platform to earn your daily bread, maybe it’s time to set your career free. After all, do you want a profession or a prison?
Do you want to delve deeper into the subject, do you have any questions, comments or want to share your experience on this topic? Write to me on Instagram: .
