The Internet has been very kind to Michael Holston over the last few years. Without social media, very few outside South Florida would know much about the man known as The Real Tarzann online. His online persona has millions of followers on different social media platforms, and he is one of the most famous animal educators and conservationists in the eyes of the younger generation right now.

Behind all the exotic animals, interactions with celebrities, and more, he is a man focused on using his influence to help out globally. From spreading educational information to raising funds, Holston is someone who believes he has a responsibility to make the most of his voice to make the world a better place.

Handle with care

With every new animal interaction, Holston spends a lot of time behind the scenes learning from experts on how to handle and treat certain animals properly. Some might think that a man with no real formal education involving animals might be making things up as they go, but he put a lot of time and effort into doing things the right way. Holston is a very strong advocate for education, and he wants to make it more accessible to people around the world. So many are interested in animals, but they do not have the funds to go through educational programs to pursue what they would like.

Even experienced conservationists like Holston are learning new things every day.  More viewers than ever before are paying attention to what he does and how animals react to his presence. If the perfect set up ends up pressuring the animals in some way, he will not insist on staying there to get a shot. Animal safety and comfort comes before everything else.

He does not do much of it right now, but Holston would love to hold clinics and educational classes on handling individual animals correctly. This can relate to exotic animals as well as common household pets, which is why the information could be valuable down the road. Handling animals the right way can significantly impact the comfort level they have. It is one of the secrets to Holston's success in being around some of the more exotic species.

Nonprofits in need of assistance

Proper funding for non-profit organizations can be a major struggle. Holston understands that a lot of people fighting for animal rights and related topics are doing so out of passion more than anything. To make changes, money is needed. There is also strength in numbers, and a combination of the two is what Holston can provide with help from his followers.

Holston is large enough as a social media star now that he has followers in all corners of the world. He is sure to share information on non-profit organizations he is passionate about, as they can potentially connect with locals wanting to help out. Even if people are not local, some want to donate money to help them grow.

Nonprofits focused on fighting against animal abuse tend to grab Holston's attention in particular. He has witnessed animal abuse firsthand in some of his travels, making it personal. It is sad to see animals abused at all, but it is particularly frustrating for endangered species that may not have high-quality ways of life.

Animal abuse can be curtailed to a certain degree, but the effort starts locally. Without a proper set up locally to help with the fight, change is hard to see happening. Dedicating a little time and effort to start something bigger can make a huge impact anywhere in the world. With the help of celebrities who might also be for the cause, Holston has more of an impact through social media if he goes down that route.

Local meetups, cleanups, and more

Influencers online have a lot of fans who are eager to engage when given the opportunity. Holston had some idea on how this worked, but it was not until he had a meetup and clean up on South Beach. He expected just a few people to stop by and chip in, but many showed up ready and eager to help out the community.

A teenager visiting on spring break gained notoriety for going around South Beach in Miami and cleaning up the mess left by others. Holston, who calls South Florida home, noticed that it was a truly remarkable idea and one that he wanted to help out. He asked to get involved, and before long, he was motivating many of his followers living in the area to get out and pitch in.

During the first cleanup, locals as well as tourists in the area showed up and got to work. It was not the most organized event, but Holston did not expect to have that amount of people show up. Many seemed interested in helping, but they did not know what exactly they needed to do before somebody took the time to put it together.

Since then, Holston has built out the idea considerably. Not only are local cleanup days becoming more of the norm, but he is hoping to inspire expansion to other parts of the globe as well. Many beaches need regular cleaning, and it can expand to parks and other open areas as well. There is no such thing as too much help around the community, which is why Holston believes this could be the start of something massive.

The responsibility of a social media star

Social media has birthed many stars over the last few years that have gained a massive following. Michael Holston continues to become more and more recognizable not only online, but in more traditional media as well. This level of celebrity has its benefits, but he also believes it comes with a lot of responsibility.

Instead of focusing on monetization, selling merchandise, picking up new followers, and other factors, Holston believes that too many people are straying away from the responsibility and opportunity to provide some educational value. Specifically, those posting photos and videos of animals have perfect opportunities to teach people along the way. It might not be what every single viewer cares about, but enough people are going to see the value in learning without having to sit through a lecture or open up a book.

Holston is not planning on replacing formal education anytime soon, but he does believe that there is a certain level of responsibility all social media influencers have. If a person is truly passionate about a topic, there is a little reason not to share quality information from time to time. In doing so, platforms like Instagram and YouTube can become a bit more valuable to the masses instead of being viewed as a place to waste time when bored.

It is hard for any person to plan out their use of a social media platform since many rely on a bit of luck to get to where they are. From his early rise, Holston knew he wanted to have a greater impact on the world than just being that social media guy handling unique animals. With some of his bigger plans already in place, he's on the right path.