A possible explanation for why politicians indulge the so-called youtuber (especially the most prominent ones), in this instance David Cánovas (TheGrefg), is compelling: approximately 40 million individuals worldwide follow him online. Naturally, amongst these “followers”, there are a few thousand in Tenerife. These are young people who wield considerable influence over others and can, although not consistently, sway votes. Hence, the Tenerife Cabildo government (CC-PP) is committed to backing any initiative or idea from an influencer. The dilemma, or at least the ethical debate, arises when public funds (essentially everyone’s money) are allocated to a figure like TheGrefg, who is currently fuelling endless hoaxes regarding DANA in Valencia, the reported death toll, government responses, and the information being circulated.
This influencer, like many others, opts to pay taxes in Andorra to minimise their obligations, which can be understood from an electoral perspective and as a means to reach demographic groups typically detached from everyday political discourse, and easily drawn into conspiracy, illiberal, or extremist theories, regardless of their nature.
Since the calamity occurred on Tuesday of last week, he has been showcasing himself, but what has circulated throughout Spain and beyond in various news outlets is that he propagated an anonymous comment shared on social networks which, as demonstrated in the video, references supposed firefighter sources suggesting there were at least 1,000 fatalities in the Bonaire car park awaiting discovery. Immediately, he acknowledges the irresponsibility of this “anonymous” individual and advises his “kids,” as he refers to his millions of followers—primarily young people, teenagers, and children—that it is prudent to “clarify” that such claims may or may not be true. Unsurprisingly, directly after, he questions the information disseminated by governments and the mainstream media, probably because it has never occurred to him to verify or exercise even a modicum of diligence, as he perpetuates precisely the contrary narrative.
In the few days that followed, wherein media outlets (across all editorial lines) dedicated significant coverage to debunk hoaxes, and even Iker Jiménez, to put it mildly, had to dismiss staff from his programme for falsifying reality, the Tenerife Cabildo government has yet to make any statement regarding its favourite youtuber‘s actions. Furthermore, after Canarias Ahora reported on October 21 that CC and PP planned to amend the island’s budget the following week by a total of 1.2 million Euros to finance two initiatives—one named Hub Intech and the other Esland (akin to the awards Cánovas has been promoting for three years, which he acknowledges are flawed)—Rosa Dávila chastised the Socialist Group for “failing to comprehend” the budgetary adjustments and asserted that, in reality, the Island’s public funds would solely be allocated to youth-oriented youtuber courses for 300,000 Euros. This was all while Tenerife prepared to host the awards for which cities like Madrid, along with other places in Spain and Latin American nations, were competing.
Irrespective of Cánovas’s claims that the prizes incur annual liabilities of one million Euros, and the modification (1.2) does not delineate the amount allocated to Esland and Hub Intech, both Tenerife and Canarian society must be apprised that those 300,000 Euros in the context of the 2025 awards are directed towards an individual who utilises social media to propagate hoaxes such as the alleged 1,000 fatalities in a car park amidst the desperation and suffering experienced by victims of DANA and throughout the nation. Incidentally, these networks are inundated with climate change deniers or those attributing the incidents to aircraft which they claim “cause” such phenomena in a grand conspiracy…
Weeks ago, Rosa Dávila strongly advocated, alongside certain media outlets and journalists, sharing on their platforms the “good news” that the Eslands would be taking place at the Tenerife Auditorium due to the promotional advantage and the movement generated by this influencer, given that it is one of the most significant internet awards globally in the Spanish language. Presumably, her stance remains unchanged since those 40 million followers still hold the same value, yet a portion of all Tenerife residents’ taxes may support someone who has been the focus of news reports for hours on end, obstinately denouncing hoaxes during their segments, seemingly to enthusiastically attract children to their courses.
An influencer whom the Tenerife government permitted to ascend Teide irregularly last year, engaging cable car staff at times deemed unadvisable, traversing trails without the necessary permits, all with the backing of the insular director of the Environment, Pedro Millán, which only lacked a red carpet and drew condemnation from 14 environmental organisations. A youtuber with whom the very president of the Cabildo eagerly poses for photographs, although it must be noted that his taxes—those of Cánovas—are only contributing to Andorra.
