Lifestyle

Franky Diamond – The Celebrity Jeweler who Instils Love for Diamonds using Instagram

Published

6 years ago

February 27, 2020

In the present age of social media, Instagram is the place to be for jewelry designers. What used to be a platform for sharing images of quaint little cafes or cute dogs has now become a powerful marketing tool for brands, independent artists, and entrepreneurs. For this reason, more and more people reliant on social media marketing are finding it essential to maintain a consistent and eye-catching feed that hooks the viewers, also the potential customers. One of them is the Toronto-based jewelry designer cum fashion influencer, Ali Lalani, also known as Franky Diamond.

Franky, an early adopter of social media, loves the community he’s found on Instagram. And when he expresses himself as well as his work on Instagram, he builds an even stronger community. To date, Franky has sold hundreds of thousands of jewelry pieces, including rings, pendants, watches, and bracelets via Instagram. He firmly believes that age-old norms like the brick-and-mortar still shine bright when it comes to jewelry are meant to be broken. Having realized the cutthroat competition prevailing in the jewelry industry and the rising necessity of presenting craftsmanship, Franky embraced the world of social media that now boasts of active base thousands of followers on Instagram alone.

When talking about balancing work with social media management, he said, “Maintaining consistency and keeping the followers engaged is a big job. As a celebrity jewelry designer, or one may call me an artist, my duty is to not only post photos of my designs but bring life to them. But on the other hand, what’s great is Instagram is fun and free. Having said that, there’s no better platform than this to showcase the talent and generate leads.” Whether people want to express themselves or use lifelike photos to best advantage, Franky says Instagram is the king of social engagement.

Through the means of attractive posts, stories, highlights, videos, and advertisements, Franky has managed to amass a pool of customers who are either celebrities, influencers, business tycoons, or just about anybody. His strong belief in adding a personal touch to the work he portrays makes him a coveted jewelry designer, as well as a social influencer, looked upon by many both in real and reel life. Even though there have been many other jewelers, jewelry designers, and jewelry brands who have placed their bet on Instagram to boost sales, what makes Franky different is his quest to integrate modernity to traditional forms of business. Today, as a lead influencer in the jewelry industry, he strongly advocates and recommends using the power of social media to promote work and skills through targeted ads and well-strategized initiatives.

He adds, “I use Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter as storytelling platforms to generate brand awareness. To say, in particular, Instagram offers a great service in terms of product discovery, making it one of the very few mediums connecting customers and producers directly, at just the touch of a button. So far, this social platform has helped me build my brand, absorb inspiration from other bloggers, jewelry designers, and enthusiasts across the world, and gain clientele. What makes Instagram special is the fact that it is visually pleasing and not crowded.”

Indeed, Franky, through his visual storytelling techniques, has mastered the art of creating a polished and cohesive Instagram feed that has left people wondering what launches next. In doing so, he has been successful in building a loyal social media following of users who not only engage with his content but show an equal amount of keenness in purchasing new jewelry collections.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.