Evgeny BadComedian Bazhenov, the popular Russian blogger and film critic, has made headlines as he announces his departure from the social media network VKontakte. Known for his incisive film reviews and engaging content, BadComedian's recent statements reveal significant discontent with the platform's operational practices and its management by the state-owned Gazprom. He cited slow server responses, increasing censorship, and unsettling changes to post visibility as part of his grievances.
Over the years, BadComedian cultivated his VKontakte community, amassing over 40,000 posts contributed over 13 years. He emphasized the platform’s previous status as the best social network in Russia, stating, “ВКонтакте долгое время была лучшей социальной сетью в России” (VK was long the best social network in Russia). Yet, he expressed disappointment with its recent direction, indicating its prioritization of features similar to foreign competitors instead of fostering its unique environment.
His critique was not isolated but echoed by other content creators facing similar hurdles. BadComedian distinguished issues like mysterious post metrics, deletions without notice, and vague commercial practices affecting content visibility. He pointed out the lack of proper support services and the difficulty creators encounter when trying to upload YouTube videos, stating his struggle to get prompt responses from VKontakte’s technical support.
The digital creator isn't just stepping away from VKontakte without fanfare. He piqued the interest of his audience with the announcement of his new video on YouTube, which he labeled as the project to conclude his era of video production. Over the years, since launching his channel in 2011, BadComedian has become synonymous with film critique on Russian-language platforms, making this potential transition momentous.
“Сегодня-завтра-послезавтра на втором канале выйдет ролик, который завершит эпоху длиною в 13 лет” (Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, my second channel will release a video which will end the era of 13 years), he shared, hinting at sweeping changes to his future content strategy. This announcement has stirred excitement and anxiety among his follower base, with many speculating whether he will effectively cease operations altogether or simply transition to new platforms.
Accompanying his announcement, BadComedian also noted recent developments from Roskomnadzor, the federal regulatory agency, which coincidentally echoed similar frustrations shared by other bloggers, requiring prolonged wait times for technical questions. He shared these resting sentiments with his viewing community, deterring potential misunderstandings concerning his abrupt move from VKontakte.
With this decision, BadComedian aligns himself with fellow Russian content creator Dmitry Kuplinov, who also declared the cessation of video publishing on VKontakte. His exit signals broader trends affecting content creators across Russian social media platforms and reflects the mounting obstacles under the current socio-political environment.
This departure from VKontakte, combined with the promise of closing out his long-standing YouTube chapter, raises questions about the future of digital content creation within Russia. Will creators pivot to alternative platforms, or will they remain confined to existing channels, hampered by the issues they've faced? BadComedian's recent decisions may serve as reflections of a transforming digital culture and the disruptive impact of varying support and infrastructure.
Fans await the release of BadComedian's upcoming video with bated breath as he continues to shape and surprise his loyal audience. The echoes of his critiques extend beyond personal sentiment; they present prominent challenges affecting many who have built their careers on fragility within the current digital framework. Only time will tell how these shifts will redefine the contours of online engagement for Russian content creators.
