The clash between traditional media and the emerging online influencer culture has always been debated.
The tension was recently thrust into the spotlight as YouTube skater Ricky Glaser took a bold stand to defend his fellow YouTubers and influencers in the skateboarding scene against a critical article published by Thrasher Magazine.
Thrasher has often been regarded as the gatekeeper mag with the late editor-in-chief Jake Phelps' leadership, and their views on core skating have been relentless for decades.
Core skateboarders in the community have often frowned upon the rise of YouTube stars and social media influencers in the scene, seeing them as a deviation from the anti-establishment roots of skateboarding.
The article in question by Ted Schmitz and Ben Jensen's illustrations, took a critical stance on the influence of YouTube skaters, suggesting that their content was watering down the purity of skateboarding and turning it into a commercialized spectacle.
Glaser, a prominent YouTube skateboarding personality with half a million subscribers, came to the defense of the skate influencers in the scene.
The Yoube star took to social media to express his support for his peers, emphasizing that they were spreading the love of skateboarding to a broader audience and nurturing a sense of community that extended beyond the confines of skate parks.
Glaser also provided his credentials that he has been skating for 20 years and has sponsors but didn't want to stay in the same place receiving free care packages but wanted to do YouTube content creation.