Sharing knowledge and digital content creation globally is the dream of many YouTubers. In Cambodia, there has yet to be many people able to rise to the status of “influencer”.

Cheng Sopheak, knowns as Sopheak Reanthort, is a Cambodian YouTube creator who produces content teaching photography. With 341,000 subscribers to his channels, he was invited to attend a webinar hosted by Google and YouTube with the Ministry of Post last Friday explaining how creators can best utilise the platform.

Sopheak told Khmer Times on Monday that he wants to encourage other creators to produce content.

“I am very honoured that I was the only YouTuber in Cambodia to attend the webinar as this is the first time that the government and the international platforms joined hands to inspire content. We have different talents, perspectives, vision, missions and goals but we all want to reach as many people as possible,” he said.

“We must value our own national language but also have international communication skills in order to produce global content. Now I am considering to create more content in the future with English content together with subtitles,” said Sopheak.

“As one of the creators or a YouTuber, I faced cyberbullying. This webinar really meant a lot to me and woke me up that we need to face the haters, learn from the mistakes and keep it as an experience. It is a stepping stone toward my destination not a stumbling block so I shouldn’t get depressed about it,” he said.

Sopheak said that he wants the young generation to know that they don’t have to be lonely during the pandemic, but can use YouTube to learn new skills.

“Find help if you need it and avoid doing nothing. Find new things to learn or do. This will help you find meaning in your life,” he said.

MasterChef Chan Kanha started a YouTube channel called “Kanha’s Kitchen” in May 2020 and currently has 24,100 followers. While globally a YouTubers as famous as Kanha are called influencers, Cambodia’s local marketing industry call her a Key Opinion Leader (KOL).

As a contestant on the wildly popular TV show MasterChef Cambodia, Kanha began getting offers representing such brands as Panasonic, Knorr and Mee Chiet.

“I enjoy being an influencer because I can inspire viewers and potential chefs to be proud of Cambodia’s culinary industry with Khmer cuisine alongside Western cuisine by combining them as fusion dishes,” Kanha said yesterday.

“Getting followers on YouTube and Facebook, the two most popular social media platforms in Cambodia, can be challenging unless the dishes I cook or introduce are what the audience is really looking for or if it’s something new,” she said.

She said that even with two popular channels, it is not enough to make a living but it helps to secure more clients who want her to be in their promotional videos or make appearances as a brand ambassador.

“I have been fortunate to be able to overcome the challenges with some of my videos achieving over 300,000 views on Facebook in a month without boosting,” said Kanha.

During the webinar, Post Minister Chea Vandeth said that Cambodian YouTube content creators need to understand the platform’s policies, in particular how to meet the standards or producing videos so that creators can have the opportunity to monetise their content through a new partnership programme to start soon.

Ministry secretary of state So Visothy told Khmer Times on Monday: “It is the first joint event organised by the ministry with Google and YouTube. Talented young individuals are now being discovered by industry professionals through YouTube, leading to the advancement of their own careers and creators across the globe are engaging in a tight-knit online community that promotes networking and connectivity.”

“YouTube is one of the biggest video-streaming platforms, connecting creators to a wide range of viewers who are able to access content for free. Not only does it provide a creative outlet for artists and creators from different backgrounds and specialties, but it is also a platform where awareness on wider issues can be raised and social change can happen with just one video,” he said.

“The ministry’s support for our local YouTuber community through training programmes and webinars like this one shows commitment towards digital transformation for our society. The ministry is strongly committed to acting as a backbone, a pillar of support, for all of our Cambodian content creators, regardless of whether you are a musician, filmmaker or educator,” said Visothy.

“Our society, as a whole, needs to be giving more consideration toward the value and potency of our content creators – especially as digital technology becomes a beneficial tool in promoting creativity,” he said.

“Viral content is about creating original content and being who you are to the viewers. The copied content would not attract followers for long,” said Visothy. “Individual imagination can lead to limitless possibilities.”

Another local Youtuber Sarin Ratanak, known as Raven in Reaction with 585,000 subscribers, said on Monday: “As professional creators we put the effort into our videos 100%. I will be way more professional to create inspired content. I support the Post Minister for encouraging local creators to create more original content. As I always tell everybody in my videos, “Be yourself. Be unique. Be who you are, as we are Khmer children”.

Sok Sovanpanha,17, a Grade 12 student at Chbar Ampov High School, said on Monday that YouTube is one part of his life journey which shows him how to have dreams.

“In the name of Youth in this young generation, I have a dream to be a civil servant who works in ministry. My life has been inspired by so many local YouTubers. The majority of famous YouTubers have made only comedy or romance videos,” he said.

“I am looking forward to creators in Cambodia who would share their experiences of learning new things, tips for studying during this pandemic and who make original content which encourages the youth to grow mentally in who they are meant to be, not blindly following the latest trendy YouTuber. I want them to become meaningful YouTubers,” Sovanpanha said.