The Aiden Ross event will likely be remembered by many for its disorder, confusion, long waits, and moments of real concern. From crowd management issues to delays and uncertainty, the day was far from perfect. Yet, as someone who has spent decades working in media, technology, and public service, I walked away from that event with something far more valuable than frustration. I walked away encouraged, humbled, and genuinely optimistic about the future of independent media.

In the middle of the chaos, something remarkable happened. A generation that is often dismissed, misunderstood, or stereotyped showed up in force, not just as fans, but as builders, journalists, entrepreneurs, and storytellers. What I witnessed that day was not just content creation. It was the evolution of media itself.

Before diving into that experience, it is important to explain who I am and why this moment mattered so much to me.

I have been involved in media and technology for most of my adult life. I have worked as a contractor for multiple technology companies, staying current with evolving platforms, tools, and trends. I have served as the former mayor of Hanford, California, and many people across the Central Valley know me either as RealRamirez or through my work in civic leadership, podcasting, and independent journalism. Today, I run media projects focused on keeping people informed about what is happening in our region, particularly stories that often go overlooked by mainstream outlets.

I do not say this to elevate myself, but to provide context. I have seen media change. I have lived through the rise of cable news, the birth of social media, the dominance of algorithms, and the decline of trust in traditional journalism. I have streamed, edited, interviewed, published, and adapted more times than I can count. I believed I had a strong grasp on where media was heading.

What I did not expect was to be so profoundly impressed by the next generation standing right in front of me.

As I moved through the event, I noticed something immediately. There were not just a handful of creators capturing footage. There were dozens. I would estimate at least 30 to 40 bloggers, streamers, and independent media creators on site, many of them very young. These were not casual phone recordings meant for quick posts. These were intentional setups.

Some creators had full camera rigs. Others had professional microphones, stabilizers, battery packs, and live streaming equipment. Many were running multiple devices simultaneously, capturing content from different angles, managing live chats, clipping footage in real time, and monetizing their streams while still in the middle of interviews.

One individual, who I believe was visiting from Japan, completely stopped me in my tracks. His setup was unlike anything I had seen at a local event. He had two cameras positioned specifically for interviews and two phones running concurrently. He was live streaming while conducting interviews, already thinking ahead to how those live streams would later be clipped, repurposed, and distributed across platforms. He was doing real time production, post production planning, and audience engagement all at once.

He interviewed me.

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As I answered his questions, I realized something important. I was not being interviewed by someone experimenting. I was being interviewed by someone who had already mastered the process. His workflow was efficient, strategic, and clearly refined through repetition. It humbled me.

I found myself thinking, wow, this younger generation truly gets it.

For someone like me, who has worked across technology sectors and prides himself on staying up to date, this realization hit hard in the best possible way. These creators were not behind the curve. In many cases, they were ahead of it.

Throughout the day, I spoke with multiple streamers and content creators. Some interviewed me. Others simply talked. What stood out was not just their technical skill, but their depth of understanding. These were not surface level conversations.

We talked about foreign policy. We talked about United States politics. We talked about cultural influence, censorship, monetization, and long term strategy. I found myself in conversations with young men who were 21 or 22 years old, discussing geopolitical issues with more clarity and nuance than many adults I have encountered between the ages of 43 and 70.

That was one of the most powerful takeaways from the entire event.

The narrative often pushed is that younger generations are disengaged, uninformed, or distracted. What I saw was the opposite. These young creators are paying attention. They are consuming information from multiple sources. They are questioning narratives. They are cross referencing. They are discussing. They are learning.

They are building platforms not just to entertain, but to inform, influence, and eventually transition into something bigger.

One of the individuals I had the opportunity to speak with was Austin Tyler, who is known online as @ayh.tee  Austin is not just another influencer chasing attention. At the time of our conversation, he had built an audience of over 5.7 million followers on TikTok alone. That kind of reach does not happen by accident.

Austin Tyler

Austin struck me as thoughtful, intelligent, and incredibly self aware. He understands that streaming is not the end goal. It is the platform. He sees it as a stepping stone to something larger, something more sustainable, something with long term impact.

We talked about his dreams. We talked about his plans. We talked about how he studies the craft, how he analyzes what works, and how he thinks about the future beyond any single app or algorithm. I walked away from that conversation confident that his goals are not only realistic, but likely inevitable.

His heart is in the right place. That matters.

When I was young, I believed I was different because I did not see many people my age deeply studying their goals, refining their skills, and committing to mastery. What I saw at this event was an entire generation doing exactly that.

These creators understand that mainstream media controls narratives. They understand that when narratives are controlled from the top down, communities are often misrepresented or ignored entirely. They are building alternatives.

This is the new media.

That reality becomes even more evident when looking at figures like Aiden Ross. Whether people agree with his content, his style, or his opinions, there is no denying his reach. With roughly 15 million followers across platforms, his voice is massive.

Aiden Ross

With that reach comes responsibility. My hope, and the hope of many, is that voices this large are used wisely. What matters most is not perfection, but intention. These platforms shape conversations, influence perspectives, and mobilize audiences in ways traditional media no longer can.

The fact that these creators are actively engaging with complex topics such as politics, foreign policy, and cultural issues is significant. They are not waiting for permission. They are not relying on cable news to tell them what matters. They are learning, questioning, and broadcasting in real time.

Of course, there is a darker side to this reality.

I have heard the same rumors many of these creators have heard. When platforms grow large and begin telling uncomfortable truths, monetization disappears. Accounts get flagged. Visibility drops. Entire profiles vanish overnight.

As of this writing, Austin’s TikTok account has gone silent and appears to have been deleted. An account with millions of followers, years of work, and massive reach simply gone. That is not just frustrating. It is a warning.

I spoke with Austin about this exact concern. I encouraged him to think long term. Build an email list. Create a text messaging service. Establish a presence on independent or decentralized platforms. Never rely entirely on one company, one app, or one algorithm.

Social media platforms rise and fall. TikTok could disappear. Facebook could change overnight. Instagram could shift priorities. YouTube could demonetize entire categories of content. The only true asset is the direct relationship with your audience.

Austin understands this. I am confident he will adapt, rebuild, and continue moving forward.

To all the streamers and creators who face criticism, skepticism, or outright hostility, I want to say this clearly. I am proud of you.

You are creating new jobs. You are building new forms of innovation. You are shaping new ideas. You are redefining what entrepreneurship looks like. You are doing this at an age when previous generations were often told to wait their turn.

My advice to you, the same advice I shared that day, is simple but powerful. Stay dedicated. Perfect your craft. Keep learning. Watch videos, absolutely. Study workflows. Analyze success. But also read books. Listen to audiobooks. Understand history. Learn economics. Study communication. Depth matters.

What I saw at the Aiden Ross event was not just content creation. It was a glimpse into the future of independent media. Despite the logistical failures, despite the chaos, despite the criticism, something extraordinary emerged.

A generation that understands storytelling, technology, monetization, and influence in ways few before them ever did.

That is the real story.

That is the highlight.

And for that, I am genuinely grateful.

Aiden, thank you for creating a space where this moment could happen.