2024-05-01 22:23:00
In Tunisia, out of 12 million inhabitants, more than 8 million subscribe to Facebook, nearly 3 million have an Instagram account and Tiktok is a growing platform, with already nearly a million accounts. The success of social networks is such that the Tunisian government is considering taxing content creators to avoid tax evasion. But professionals believe that it is necessary to start with legal and cultural recognition of the profession.
From our correspondent in Tunis,
With his 1.3 million subscribers on Instagram, 400,000 on YouTube, Samy Cheffai manages not only his accounts on social networks, but also a production company with an accountant and a website. This content creator and director, well known among young Tunisians, is among those who have managed to make the activity legal and professional in the eyes of the law.
But it took him a little time, in a country where the status of content creator does not exist. “ When you are asked for a very specific job, the client who calls you says: “Ok, how are we going to bill this?“ », remembers Samy Cheffai. “ I wondered how it was going to go. They talked to me regarding “revenues at source”, “19%”, “taxes”, words that I didn’t understand at all. And in fact, I realized that I had to open my own business. »
Producer, but not yet content creator
Today, his job as a producer allows him to produce short films, but also commercial activities and content for advertisers. However, legally, he remains a producer and not a creator of content. “ In fact, it will always be unclear for a certain category of people, because it is new to them, which is totally normal » observed Samy Cheffai. ” Even the community manager, ten years ago, it was weird. Who knew someone would take care of a page Facebook and get paid? »
If mentalities have changed in ten years, Tunisian law struggles to regulate this profession which appeals to many young people. A commission within the Ministry of Finance counted 20,000 content creators and service providers on social networks in 2023, many of which escape taxation due to lack of status.
Baccalaureate level schools
In advertising and digital creation schools, professional training attempts to remove the cultural barrier to recognizing these professions as such. “ The obstacle is really a cultural obstacle, especially the parents », recognizes Selma Elloumi, director of Créativ Adschool, which she launched a year and a half ago. « Digital, advertising, these are professions that are not known. They have the impression that their children are in an unserious field, that it’s a game. But we quickly showed that the training was solid. »
Most young graduates leave with training in advertising and digital creation for 2,700 euros per year. Many quickly find a job, while waiting to start their own business. “ Our target is baccalaureate level and above », specifies Selma Elloumi. “ If they haven’t passed the baccalaureate and they have a creative side, we can accept them and there are many who are also looking for a career change. »
Even if the law still remains unclear, these new professions are increasingly attractive, in a country where the unemployment rate for 15-25 year olds is around 40%.
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