23. December 2024
Writers Rights Under Siege: The Dark Side Of Pocket Fms Rise To Fame

Pocket FM is a popular platform that allows writers from around the world to publish their stories in the form of audio podcasts. The platform has gained a significant following, with many users praising its democratic approach to content creation. However, beneath the surface, writers are facing numerous challenges that threaten the very fabric of the platform.
The algorithm determining what content gets promoted and what doesn’t creates a catch-22 for writers, who must rely on their audience to promote their work in order to reach new listeners. Miracle Ubah, a 26-year-old Nigerian writer, is one of the many authors struggling with this issue. He has written over 50,000 words for Pocket FM but hasn’t yet attracted enough active listeners to meet his monthly stipend of $375.
To work around the platform’s system, many writers are finding ways to hire other writers or producers to help them produce content that meets the requirements. This practice is not unique to Ubah, and others have taken similar steps.
The challenges faced by writers on Pocket FM have sparked controversy among its founders. Rohan Nayak, one of the three cofounders, acknowledges these difficulties but emphasizes his vision for a platform where writers can publish their stories without fear of censorship or algorithmic manipulation. “So it’s pretty much like a democratic platform,” he says.
However, not all writers agree with this approach. Balqis, another Nigerian writer who spoke to The Verge, believes that using AI to convert text into speech would be a “step down” for Pocket FM. “AI lacks emotions,” she argues. “It’s really wrong.”
The use of AI on the platform has sparked debate among writers, with some seeing it as a convenient solution and others viewing it as a threat to human creativity.
Despite these challenges, many writers remain committed to using Pocket FM. Amina Ubah, Miracle’s sister and an acquisition editor for the platform, prefers her current role because she doesn’t “work with fear.”
The rise of AI’s involvement in content creation and publishing has become a significant issue among writers on Pocket FM, but other challenges persist that need to be addressed by its community