Hello Yahya, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey as an influencer?
Hello! My name is Yahya Achou Ouiy, and I am a content creator on several platforms: Instagram (@yahya.achou) for 4 months, LinkedIn for 3 years, and TikTok (@yahyaachou) for 4 years. On TikTok, I post 2 to 3 videos a day, while on Instagram, I post 4 to 5 times a week. My content primarily focuses on student life with a humorous twist, often inspired by my Italo-Moroccan origins. Through my videos, I aim to capture the attention of actors, journalists, and other professionals while building a distinct character. These efforts have allowed me to form partnerships with brands and work on the publication of my upcoming book.
Have you ever faced cases of content theft on your social networks? If so, could you tell us more?
Yes, it all started with a humorous video I made after I passed my baccalaureate! To give you a bit of context, I arrived in France in 2016 after growing up in Italy. Despite the language barrier, I managed to excel in my studies, achieving a 20.42 average on my baccalaureate in 2019, before joining a preparatory class at Lycée Louis-Le-Grand and then enrolling in ENSTA Paris, one of the top engineering schools in France.
This video about my baccalaureate is reposted every year on various social media platforms. While it increases my visibility, several issues arise. First, the information is often incorrect: my origins, my score, or even where I lived. Additionally, some people monetize these videos without owning the content. More recently, I’ve noticed the theft of concepts. I posted a humorous video commenting on the finale of Emily in Paris, and I saw several accounts copy the exact same joke. Unfortunately, it’s challenging to protect yourself from this type of plagiarism.
What lessons have you learned from these experiences regarding content protection?
It made me realize the importance of protecting intellectual property. Many creators aren’t aware of these risks before they get started. Today, even though some platforms offer solutions to certify accounts, they don’t necessarily certify the content. Yet, it’s essential to protect creative works, whether for influencers or journalists, to prevent our creations from being exploited without our consent.
Do you think systematic content protection would benefit the entire creator and influencer community?
Absolutely! A video from a highly followed influencer can be just as valuable as a scientific article, which is protected by copyright. Creators should have the opportunity to certify and protect their works in the same way to ensure proper recognition and appreciation for their efforts.
With the emergence of generative AI, do you think these cases of content theft are likely to increase?
Yes, and it’s already happening. Today, it’s very easy to generate or edit images using AI. For example, we’ve seen doctored images, such as those of Taylor Swift, or photoshopped pictures of Léna Situations, circulating on social networks. Fortunately, the law now requires indicating if AI was used to create an image. Content certification would make it easier to quickly verify their authenticity and ensure they belong to their rightful creators.
More broadly, we can see that the content creation landscape is becoming more structured in this ever-evolving world. Take, for example, the Influence Law, enacted a year ago, which aims to regulate influencer activity by strengthening transparency in commercial partnerships, protecting consumers, and fighting against abusive practices. This law marks an important turning point in the professionalization of the sector by setting clear rules and encouraging creators to better protect themselves while complying with new legal requirements.
As an influencer in the process of professionalization, what do you think are the main challenges you face in managing your activity and protecting your content?
I am at the beginning of my professionalization. I recently did my first collaboration with the Gibert bookstore, and I’m still learning about the world of entrepreneurship. I’m also trying to participate in influencer events like Follow Me, but as a student, I sometimes lack the time to attend. Events like Fashion Week are excellent opportunities to increase visibility. These small steps are what help me gradually professionalize.
Beyond day-to-day management, professionalization also means understanding the ecosystem in which we operate and thinking about solutions to protect our work. Content certification, like the one offered by Certiphy.io, could be an excellent way to ensure the authenticity and protection of the works published online.
