Podcast: Josh Richards on TikTok influencer fame

At 20 years of age, Josh Richards is a millionaire TikTok influencer. Josh is the fourth highest-earning personality on the platform, according to Forbes, and has a following of 25.6 million.

It might seem like a mystery to Gen X and elder millennials that younger social media users have fallen for TikTok, a platform that seems to be more about dance moves and viral challenges than anything else.

But TikTok celebrity Josh Richards explains that Gen Z prizes the platform for its focus on authenticity in a world where influencers Facetune, Photoshop and filter their lives for followers.

Josh talked about the journey to success – all the way from filming duds in mom’s basement to the moment of going viral on TikTok – and discusses what next ventures are in store.

When asked what makes TikTok so attractive to gen Z, Josh said: “I think the ability to be a star overnight. It’s this platform that anyone can go viral on.”

“You don’t need the best phone that’s out right now. You don’t need the highest camera quality. You can be in your mom’s basement filming a video – that’s what I was doing – and be able to blow up,” explained Josh.

Josh also chatted about the Gen Z focused production company CrossCheck Studios that he co-founded with Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg, and the venture capital fund he launched with Ashton Kutcher.

CrossCheck Studios founder and CEO Josh Richards was in conversation with Style Canada editor-in-chief Elise Gasbarrino on Centre Stage at Collision 2022.

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Main image: Lukas Schulze/Web Summit (CC BY 2.0)