Google’s Pixel 9 deal got awkward with influencers

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TikTok just dropped group chats for up to 32 people, keeping your convos in-app so you can share videos without ever needing to leave.

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Telegram introduced new features on its platform to help creators make money from their activity.

The FTC issued a ban on “selling or buying fake indicators of social media influence,” which includes ways to inflate content viewership or follower counts.

Meta Platforms is launching analytics tools on Threads that people on the platform can use to study the breakdown of their audiences to see how their content is performing.

KSI and the Sidemen among UK's top richest gamers and creators.

VoyceMe, a New York-based manga and webtoon creator startup, announced it raised $7.5 million in seed funding led by Redpoint Ventures.

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How MrBeast’s Amazon TV deal got messy

Amazon’s big bet on YouTube star MrBeast for their reality show “Beast Games” is turning out to be more trouble than triumph. Launched with much fanfare in March, the show was supposed to be a major win for Prime Video, boasting the biggest cash prize in TV history—$5 million. But things have taken a turn.

High stakes, high risks: Amazon gave MrBeast a lot of creative freedom, even letting him choose ad sponsors—a risky move that’s now backfiring. The high price tag for product integration, with some brands expected to cough up $10 million, didn’t sit well with advertisers, who started to hesitate.

Safety issues and bad press: Things really went south when The New York Times exposed safety concerns during production—participants complained of inadequate food, medical care, and even injuries. This bad press has stalled advertising deals, and there’s talk of delaying the show’s launch to manage the fallout.

What this means for Amazon: The drama around “Beast Games” could lead to budget cuts for Amazon’s unscripted content, especially as they face rising costs in other areas like live sports. But Amazon’s still a big player in the streaming game, with plans to expand in other areas, including theatrical releases.

The future of creator collabs: This debacle might make streaming platforms rethink how much creative control they give to creators. Amazon’s experience could lead to tighter oversight and a shift toward content they can manage more directly, rather than relying on big-name personalities.

The bottom line: While “Beast Games” is a bump in the road, it doesn’t mean the end of creator partnerships in streaming. But you can bet future deals will come with more strings attached and stricter guidelines to avoid another messy situation like this.

Google’s Pixel 9 deal got awkward with influencers

Google has sparked controversy with its latest Pixel 9 influencer program, causing a stir among tech creators. The company's invite-only Team Pixel program, which gives early access to Pixel products, included a new clause this year that rubbed many the wrong way. Influencers were told they couldn’t feature Pixel devices alongside competitors, and showing a preference for other brands could get them booted from the program.

The Verge confirmed the clause, which appeared in screenshots shared by influencers on social media. The stipulation demanded that creators “feature the Google Pixel device in place of any competitor mobile devices,” and warned that favoring other brands could end their relationship with Google.

Google has since backpedaled, with a communications manager admitting that the language "missed the mark" and has been removed. The company clarified that this clause was specific to Team Pixel—a program run by PR agency 1000heads to drum up early buzz for the Pixel—and didn’t apply to official product reviewers.

The backlash has been intense, with some influencers, like YouTuber Kevin Nether, quitting the program in protest. Nether, who reviews tech on his channel, said, “To be cornered into using one product—that doesn’t work for me.”

The uproar over Team Pixel highlights a bigger issue in the tech review world: the blurred lines between genuine reviews and marketing. While some creators maintain strict ethical standards, the lack of clear guidelines makes it difficult for audiences to know what’s real. Google’s latest misstep is a reminder of the murky state of online reviews and the challenges of navigating this space.