2018 may not be Logan Paul’s year, but his little brother has hit the ground running this past month.
Business-savvy Jake Paul kicked off the start of the year by launching a new educational platform for his fans. For a cost of 26 dirhams (or 7 American dollars), aspiring influencers can sign up to “Edfluence” and learn the secrets to influencer marketing success from one of YouTube’s biggest celebrities.
Seems very affordable. What’s the catch?
Your AED 26 won’t actually get you a full blown course. It’s technically a “one time joining fee” (although Paul doesn’t specify that in the joining process). After signing up, students are able to purchase an “educational” course for AED 210 (or $57).
Hmm. Seems a bit scammy.
According to the Edfluence website, the platform is “…about providing the most comprehensive education for influencers, while empowering and helping those who are passionate about social media, turn that passion into a professional career that can potentially impact the world in a meaningful way.”
While the intentions of “Edfluence” appear to be good, we’re skeptical about the platform.
Paul doesn’t have the greatest history of being fair with his fellow Team 10 members. Why would he choose to do so with his Team 1000 (his collective name for his students)? And we also noticed a few suspicious clauses in the “Terms of Service”…
This means that “by posting or publishing User Content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free right and license (with the right to sublicense) to host, store, transfer, display, perform, reproduce, modify, and distribute your User Content, in whole or in part, in any media formats and through any media channels (now known or hereafter developed). Our use of your User Content may be without any compensation paid to you.”
Essentially, if a student submits any content on the platform (i.e. “homework”, video content for review/feedback, etc.), Jake Paul will be able to claim rights to it. On top of that, the reviews haven’t been favourable. Paul’s advice to his students on how to gain followers on Instagram has been called “scummy” by Buzzfeed (he encourages the follow-unfollow method).
Overall, we think you’re better off attending Condé Nast Italia’s Social Academy if you really want a “formal” education in influencer marketing.