Content creators, digital personalities and aspiring influencers gathered at Al Khor Hall, Radisson Blu Deira Creek for Kuya Unfiltered, an afternoon of candid conversations on finding a niche, creating meaningful content and using influence responsibly.
The highlight of the program was the “Kuya: Unfiltered Talk” by social media influencer and advocate Mico Banua, who introduced a simple but powerful framework:
K — Know your niche.
U — Understand the techniques.
Y — Your audience should be able to relate.
A — Act appropriately and responsibly.
Banua emphasized that a creator’s niche can eventually become part of their identity.
“Your niche eventually becomes part of your identity. It’s what people remember you for.”
He also stressed that having personality and charisma is only the beginning. “Influence may get people’s attention. But good content gives them a reason to stay.”
For Banua, the strongest content goes beyond views and likes.
“Don’t just create content that people can watch. Create content that makes them feel seen.”
But with an audience comes a greater responsibility.
“Having an audience doesn’t just give you influence. It gives you responsibility.”
Banua encouraged creators to make their content worth their audience’s time—whether by making people laugh, teaching them something, making them feel understood or inspiring them to create.
And in an increasingly crowded creator economy, his final message was perhaps the most memorable:
“Standing out isn’t always about being the loudest person in a room full of 200 million creators. Sometimes, it’s simply about being the one person who feels real.”
The program continued with a panel discussion moderated by radio personality Zeena Zalamea-Turner, featuring Ahmad Ali, Arya Ahmed, Nora Fahmy, Sakshi Chanchal and Mico Banua, followed by a hotel walkthrough and closing session.
Kuya Unfiltered ultimately delivered a simple reminder: influence can get you noticed, but authenticity is what makes people stay.
