Recent Editions

On chat app Geneva, users join groups based on interests. Graphic: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

Chat App Geneva Raises Series A; Musk’s Creator Questions

By Kaya Yurieff · Nov 14, 2022 1:00pm PST
The rise of TikTok, which prioritizes recommended videos over social connections, has created an opening for other social media apps that help users connect privately around common interests.  One is Geneva, a group chat app that’s similar to Discord and Slack. As we wrote in October, Geneva and others—including SMS texting... The rise of TikTok, which prioritizes recommended videos over social connections, has created an...
Creator Alyssa McKay posts on Snapchat about 100 times per day. Photo: Brian Nelson
Creator Economy

Musk’s Twitter Wants to Take On YouTube; The Snapchat Creator Who Posts 100 Times Per Day

By Kaya Yurieff · Nov 10, 2022 2:58pm PST
We knew Elon Musk wanted to go big with his new Twitter purchase. Now we know just how high he’s aiming—YouTube. Musk, at an all-hands with Twitter’s product meeting Thursday, indicated he has aspirations to turn Twitter into a home for video creators, including by sharing ad revenue with those who post videos on Twitter. We knew Elon Musk wanted to go big with his new Twitter purchase. Now we know just how high he’s...
David Baszucki, CEO of Roblox. Photo: Bloomberg
Creator Economy

Roblox’s Bright Spot; Cameo and Meta Layoffs; The Creator Founder Rising at Twitter

By Mahira Dayal · Nov 9, 2022 3:06pm PST
Roblox said Wednesday that its core businesses in the U.S. and Canada have surpassed their peak levels during the pandemic, and sales of its digital currency Robux—its main source of revenue—have rebounded 10% after two straight quarterly drops. But that wasn’t enough to soothe investors who focused on the gaming platform’s net loss of $297.8... Roblox said Wednesday that its core businesses in the U.S. and Canada have surpassed their peak...
Photo: Bloomberg
The Days of NFT Royalties May Be Numbered; Bankman-Fried’s Twitter Influence; Who’s Using Mastodon?
By Mahira Dayal · Nov 8, 2022 2:10pm PST · 1 comment
Photo: Bloomberg
Creator Economy

The Days of NFT Royalties May Be Numbered; Bankman-Fried’s Twitter Influence; Who’s Using Mastodon?

By Mahira Dayal · Nov 8, 2022 2:10pm PST · 1 comment
Traders: 1. Creators who earned money by turning their art into non-fungible tokens: 0. Previously, those creators received a cut every time their NFT was sold—often between 5% and 10% of the sale price. But more recently some marketplaces have removed the requirement to pay royalties on NFTs. Traders love getting more for less, and no... Traders: 1. Creators who earned money by turning their art into non-fungible tokens: 0. ...
Graphic: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

At Musk's Twitter, What’s Old Is New Again; Spotify Jabs Apple Over Audiobooks

By Kaya Yurieff · Nov 7, 2022 3:19pm PST
Surprise! Elon Musk was busy tweeting over the weekend, including his priorities for Twitter, from fixing search (pronto) to making Twitter “by the far the most accurate source of information about the world.” He also asked a user how YouTube’s monetization works and where Twitter can improve. One person noted that YouTube gives creators... Surprise! Elon Musk was busy tweeting over the weekend, including his priorities for Twitter,...
Graphic: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

What Happens To Twitter Spaces?

By Kaya Yurieff · Nov 4, 2022 2:31pm PDT
As a Twitter super user, Elon Musk hasn’t wasted time rethinking tools for other active tweeters. In the past week or so since completing his takeover, Musk instructed engineers to resurrect six-second video app Vine, revamp subscription offering Twitter Blue, and build new functionalities such as paid direct messages and paywalled video,... As a Twitter super user, Elon Musk hasn’t wasted time rethinking tools for other active tweeters....
Dani Austin. Photo: Fortuna, Fort Lion Studio
Creator Economy

QVC Emerges as a Draw for Influencers

By Mahira Dayal · Nov 3, 2022 3:25pm PDT
Maybe we were too quick to write off QVC. In the last few years, a handful of live-shopping startups and social media apps have offered live-streamed shopping, all versions of QVC’s shopping channel but tailored for smartphone users. As it turns out, the 36-year-old unit of media conglomerate Qurate Retail still is a draw—even with influencers... Maybe we were too quick to write off QVC. In the last few years, a handful of live-shopping...
Stills from Vine. Graphic: Shane Burke
A Former Vine Star Gives His Advice on a Musk Reboot
By Kaya Yurieff · Nov 2, 2022 4:00pm PDT
Stills from Vine. Graphic: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

A Former Vine Star Gives His Advice on a Musk Reboot

By Kaya Yurieff · Nov 2, 2022 4:00pm PDT
When Twitter decided to shut down the six-second video app Vine five years ago, the online eulogies poured in. But Vine’s relevance had already slipped before Twitter pulled the plug. At the beginning of 2017—the year it was shut down—the app fell out of the top 100 free apps on Apple’s App Store. Bigger rivals like Instagram were adding video... When Twitter decided to shut down the six-second video app Vine five years ago, the online...
Photo via Tala Radwan on TikTok and Shutterstock. Art: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

How Gamers Use TikTok; Pinterest Reassures Creators

By Mahira Dayal · Nov 1, 2022 3:06pm PDT
TikTok is likely to reveal more about its gaming ambitions when it holds its first gaming event online on Wednesday. During that event, titled “TikTok Made Me Play It,” TikTok may announce a new gaming tab, which will feature in-app games, as the Financial Times reported. The app could also introduce gaming features that would increase its... TikTok is likely to reveal more about its gaming ambitions when it holds its first gaming event...
Chart: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

How $20 Twitter Blue Compares to Amazon, Netflix and Disney+; Interview With a Sourdough Influencer

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 31, 2022 3:17pm PDT · 1 comment
Elon Musk plans to hike the price of subscription offering Twitter Blue to $20 from $5, The Verge reported. With the current plan, verified users would have 90 days to subscribe or lose their coveted blue checkmark. Currently, Twitter Blue offers early access features, such as the ability to edit tweets. The $20 per month fee is steep... Elon Musk plans to hike the price of subscription offering Twitter Blue to $20 from $5, The Verge...
Photo by Getty Images
Creator Economy

Twitter Shuts Down an Audio Feature; Musk to Take CEO Role

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 28, 2022 12:22pm PDT
What features could be on the chopping block now that Elon Musk owns Twitter?Like other tech companies, Twitter rolled out a swath of new creator features since pandemic lockdowns, ranging from live audio Spaces to Super Follows, where accounts can charge followers for bonus tweets. Now Musk, a super Tweeter himself, has indicated he’s ready to... What features could be on the chopping block now that Elon Musk owns Twitter?Like other tech...
Photo: Bloomberg
Pinterest CEO Backburners Creator Strategy
By Mahira Dayal · Oct 27, 2022 4:23pm PDT
Photo: Bloomberg
Creator Economy

Pinterest CEO Backburners Creator Strategy

By Mahira Dayal · Oct 27, 2022 4:23pm PDT
New Pinterest CEO Bill Ready has a vision for the company: In the future, every product on Pinterest will be shoppable. A user won’t need to navigate to a separate shopping tab and will instead be able to buy a product wherever they are on the digital scrapbooking app. But creators are no longer the most important part of that plan, he said.“... New Pinterest CEO Bill Ready has a vision for the company: In the future, every product on...
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Photo by Bloomberg
Creator Economy

Why Instagram Waited to Launch Group Features

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 26, 2022 4:04pm PDT
One word that has been coming up frequently in my conversations with creators is community. This buzzword refers to the fact that influencers are focused on building deeper loyalty with fans. While Instagram, YouTube or TikTok may be the primary way they reach audiences, they are choosing other apps— including Discord, Geneva, Telegram, as well... One word that has been coming up frequently in my conversations with creators is community. This...
Photo: Bloomberg
Creator Economy

A Tale of Two YouTubes; Podcasts Fuel Spotify Growth; Most Promising Creator Economy Startups

By Mahira Dayal · Oct 25, 2022 4:35pm PDT · 1 comment
It’s the season of downbeat superlatives for internet companies, as advertisers rein in spending. The latest: YouTube said its ad revenue dropped 2% to $7.07 billion in the third quarter, the first time that metric has dropped year over year since parent-company Alphabet began reporting it in 2019. Snap last week reported its weakest quarterly... It’s the season of downbeat superlatives for internet companies, as advertisers rein in spending....
Chart: Shane Burke
Creator Economy

Taking Stock of Meta’s Creator Initiatives; Spotify to Hire for Creator Roles

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 24, 2022 2:31pm PDT
Since launching this newsletter 18 months ago, we’ve chronicled how large tech platforms have raced to roll out features aimed at creators. Last year, Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms was especially active, in some cases announcing several new features in the span of a month. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg proclaimed: “We want to build the... Since launching this newsletter 18 months ago, we’ve chronicled how large tech platforms have...
Photo: Bloomberg
Snap Needs Some Subscription Juice
By Mahira Dayal · Oct 20, 2022 4:47pm PDT
Photo: Bloomberg
Creator Economy

Snap Needs Some Subscription Juice

By Mahira Dayal · Oct 20, 2022 4:47pm PDT
Snap’s earnings call had a standout message: The camera app needs to quickly find new ways to tap into its young, growing audience to revitalize revenue growth. One way to do this is by expanding beyond advertising and building a stronger subscription feature. But if Twitter's subscription feature Twitter Blue is any model, Snap has its work cut... Snap’s earnings call had a standout message: The camera app needs to quickly find new ways to tap...
Creator Jonathan Hyla. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Hyla.
Creator Economy

What to Expect from Snap Earnings; Q&A With A Filmmaker Building An Online Community for ADHD Creatives

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 19, 2022 2:37pm PDT
Snap’s third-quarter financial results on Thursday will serve as a preview of how other internet companies are managing a pullback in ad spending and Apple’s disruptive privacy changes. Wall Street analysts see some signs of life, but warn that macroeconomic pressure persists. The Snapchat parent company and other tech companies are also... Snap’s third-quarter financial results on Thursday will serve as a preview of how other internet...
ConvertKit CEO Nathan Barry. Photo: Henry Thong
Creator Economy

A Boot-Strapped Startup Vies With Mailchimp for Creator Dollars; YouTube Introduces Podcast Ads

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 18, 2022 2:42pm PDT
When Instagram started to become popular more than a decade ago, many bloggers abandoned their personal websites to post on the photo-sharing app instead. Those blogs and mailing lists became in vogue again as creators looked for ways to connect more personally with fans. That meant a new market for the email marketing software services that... When Instagram started to become popular more than a decade ago, many bloggers abandoned their...
Photo: Shutterstock
Creator Economy

Protecting Bipolar Creators Online; The Leanest Creator Economy Startups

By Mahira Dayal · Oct 17, 2022 3:00pm PDT
In The Weekend section, my colleague Margaux took a deep dive into the reality that bipolar creators on TikTok face. During manic episodes, those creators sometimes struggle with common symptoms of bipolar disorder, like an excess of energy and lack of judgment. That puts them in a vulnerable position as they post and talk to the public... In The Weekend section, my colleague Margaux took a deep dive into the reality that bipolar...
Photo by TikTok. Illustration by Shane Burke.
TikTok Steps Up Ad Offerings; Visa Joins Creator-Payments Rush
By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 13, 2022 2:34pm PDT
Photo by TikTok. Illustration by Shane Burke.
Creator Economy

TikTok Steps Up Ad Offerings; Visa Joins Creator-Payments Rush

By Kaya Yurieff · Oct 13, 2022 2:34pm PDT
Later this month, Snap and Instagram-parent Meta Platforms will reveal whether their digital ad businesses managed to rebound in the third quarter—or whether, as Wall Street analysts anticipate for Meta, the business has worsened. One mounting headwind? TikTok’s ad business. A recent U.K. filing for TikTok’s European business... Later this month, Snap and Instagram-parent Meta Platforms will reveal whether their digital...