Big brands snub small creators...

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MrBeast's $100 million Amazon show, Beast Games, is pushing forward despite controversy over contestant conditions, but experts warn the backlash could impact his future projects and partnerships.

Adobe’s new tool lets creators say ‘NO’ to AI

Adobe just dropped Content Authenticity, a new tool that gives creators a say in how their work gets used — especially when it comes to AI scraping. You can now tag your art, videos, and photos with credentials like your social handles, and more importantly, let the world know if you’re not down for your work to train AI models.

It’s not legally binding, but Adobe hopes companies will play nice and respect these preferences. They’re also cooking up a Chrome extension to make these credentials visible wherever content is shared, offering a little more transparency for creators.

This update comes after Adobe caught heat for changes to their terms of service that had people worried they were feeding user content to AI. Adobe later walked it back, saying they wouldn’t use anything stored locally or in the cloud for AI training.

The Takeaway: Adobe’s giving creators a way to stand up against AI misuse, even if it’s not enforceable yet. It’s a small but important step in the fight for creative control in a world where AI is quickly becoming a big player.

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Why big brands are ditching small creators for mega-influencers

The days of micro influencers being the go-to for brand deals might be fading fast. A new survey by Linqia shows that marketers are shifting their focus back to mega influencers and celebrities, leaving smaller creators behind.

The shift: Brands are now more interested in big names with guaranteed reach. The percentage of marketers wanting to work with celebrities has jumped from 30% to 40%, while interest in mega influencers has climbed from 48% to 60%. Meanwhile, micro influencers are becoming pricier, making it harder for them to compete.

Why it’s happening: Oversaturation on platforms like TikTok and Instagram means it’s tougher for smaller creators to break through the noise. Big names guarantee reach and are often more cost-effective than hiring multiple micro influencers.

Still hope for small creators: User-generated content and affiliate marketing remain solid opportunities for smaller influencers. And let’s be real—social media trends are always shifting.

For now, though, big brands want big stars. It’s time for smaller creators to rethink their strategies.

Influencers get a new way to pay: No cash, just content

Forget cash, influencers are now swiping their way to free meals and spa days with a new card from OTH Network.

The deal: OTH Network is an influencer-focused fintech platform that lets creators exchange content for goods and services. After producing sponsored content for a brand, influencers can use their OTH card at partner businesses like restaurants or beauty spas to redeem their earnings.

How it works: Influencers apply to OTH by sharing their follower count and content niche. Once accepted, they receive a black and gold card, which acts like a loyalty card for influencers. After posting content, AI reviews it, and the influencer can redeem their payment at participating businesses.

The catch: Right now, only creators with over 100,000 followers are getting in, though OTH plans to expand to smaller influencers soon. With over 3,000 creators already onboard, this app could be the next big thing in influencer marketing.

For creators looking to get paid in perks, this card might just be the ultimate status symbol.

Top updates 🍵

🎙️ Alex Cooper interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris on her "Call Her Daddy" podcast, marking a rare political discussion as Cooper felt compelled to address key issues affecting women in the upcoming election.

🚀 Amaka Studio, a social publishing platform focused on Pan-African creators, announced $2 million in seed funding led by Equitane.

🚫 TikTok faces lawsuits from 14 states, accusing it of harming kids' mental health and misleading the public about platform safety.

📁 Facebook is rolling out updates to prioritize recommended content, including new "Local" and "Explore" tabs, and a TikTok-like video feed, showing users more content from accounts they don't follow.

👀 YouTube has nearly fixed a glitch that mistakenly deleted channels for spam, with most channels restored and just a few videos left to recover.

💸 MrBeast acquired Vouch, a job platform for creators, expanding his ventures that include Feastables and ViewStats. Terms were not disclosed.

Creator notes 📝

Read: What do Instagram influencers think about AI (SMT)

Watch: Why you’re so tired (Johnny Harris)

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