Stop for a moment and think about how those born between 1997 and 2012 would cope if Mark Zuckerberg suddenly shut Meta down. For many Gen Zs, social media feels like their most prized possession. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Internet-based platforms designed for creating, sharing, and connecting have unleashed a new brand of brilliance in the younger generations.

Social media is also enabling free, limitless networking and sparking some of the strongest friendships, collaborations, and communities across the world. Not to mention the thousands who now earn their livelihood from the numerous avenues of content creation these platforms offer. Nowadays, almost every real-life job description has a digital twin living on social media. The content creation industry has grown so wide that traditional skill sets now translate into online roles that are just as valuable and sometimes even more lucrative. For example, the accountants of the physical job market are now data analysts; journalists have become content writers and copywriters; public relations officers are now digital marketers; and event planners have naturally evolved into project and product managers.&nbsp; No one is left behind; even the most consistent consumers of social media are rewarded. They now double as User-Generated Content (UGC) creators too.

At this point, social media is as essential to creators as creators are to social media. It’s a mutually dependent cycle, each one keeping the other alive.&nbsp;

A reliable source, <a href="https://cropink.com/">Cropink</a>, credits Instagram and TikTok as two of the most used social media platforms specifically among Gen Z in 2025. The statistics show that about half of Gen Z spend at least 4 hours daily on social media. TikTok dominates for discovery and headlines, while Instagram is growing as Gen Z's go-to for social interactions. Each platform has a unique selling point.

Artificial Intelligence and Video Content&nbsp;

Owing to all the updates introduced over the years, two major factors now rule Gen Z’s favourite social media platforms. These are video content and AI-driven algorithms. Meaning the systems powered by artificial intelligence determine what appears on your feed, in what order, and how frequently.&nbsp;

It's the same algorithm, but with different parameters. Before, the algorithm relied mainly on user engagement, behaviour patterns, preferences, and interactions. Now, the algorithm will push whatever trendy video has the most shares and saves straight onto your timeline, whether you asked for it or not.

The irony is that today’s advanced and “personalised” AI often serves the platform’s agenda more than the user’s. Instead of curating a unique experience based on the accounts you follow, the algorithm prioritises what keeps you scrolling. AI now predicts what you see by what performs best across the platform rather than what matters most to you. This leaves creators with the responsibility of hacking the system by feeding the new algorithm's appetite with the same AI-optimised videos it promotes.

The Catch-22 just got even more interesting. AI-driven algorithms have now built a direct bridge between social media and the movie industry. One where creators who start out making short videos and miniature acting skits for engagement can transition into real acting roles without any formal experience. Their consistent output of edits, reactions, reviews, lip-syncs, POV scenes, or micro-storytelling gives them both practice and visibility. And because these formats are the most algorithm-hackable content in 2025, they trend enough to push creators directly into the spotlight that traditional actors once had to fight for.

One such creator is Banele Ndaba, the South African TikTok sensation popularly known as <a href="https://theinsidersa.co.za/banele-ndaba-making-waves-in-comedy-content-creation/">Moghelinz</a>. A comedian and dancer, Banele describes his online persona as “an alter ego that Banele uses to get to places he can’t reach.” True to his words, after five years of consistent content creation with exponential growth in the last three, he has channelled his social media momentum into a growing acting career. With recognitions such as the <a href="https://dfa.co.za/lifestyle/2022-05-11-sa-tiktok-star-moghelingz-wins-content-creator-of-the-year-award2/">Clout Africa Awards’ Creator</a> of the Year, a cameo role in SABC 1’s soap Uzalo, and a lead role in the Netflix short film Rosa Republic, Moghelinz is proof that short-form fame is capable of opening cinematic doors. Although some roles came before 2024, his inclusion in TikTok’s Visionary Voices Africa List 2024 (as both an actor and a creator) shows how the algorithm still actively rewards those who merge viral content with talented storytelling.

Similarly, Kenzy—born <a href="https://www.thisdaylive.com/2025/07/10/kenzy-on-building-real-influence-from-the-ground-up-in-a-world-obsessed-with-numbers/">Ezike Uche Kelvin</a>—has become a major Nigerian Gen-Z brand online. Known for his comedic TikTok and Instagram skits, he made his acting debut at just nineteen in the 2024 Nollywood film titled After School. That same year, he appeared in the YouTube series He Fights for Me. Kenzy stands as a clear example of how Gen-Z creators leverage their algorithm-boosted visibility to transition into the movie industry.

These creators are evidence of the fact that despite AI becoming “more selfish” and recommendation-heavy, the very tools that make the algorithm overwhelming are the same ones accelerating their success.

As the tides shift, it's important to shift with them. Even in the era of compulsive social media, Gen Z is not just consuming movie culture. They're leveraging social media algorithms to promote it. One artificial intelligence-optimised video clip at a time!

A fresh look at the invisible forces rewriting Gen Z’s creativity, fame, and the future of film.




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