How Apple became a villain to many creators

Heyyyy!

AI startups like Faceless.video are automating video content for TikTok and YouTube, offering a new way to generate passive income while you stay hands-off. 📹💸

Top updates

💸 LTK’s new tools give creators more power over their earnings.

👾 Bluesky now supports 60-second video uploads with autoplay, up to 25 videos (10GB) daily. Email verification is required, and AI tools moderate content for safety.

☕️ Spotter raised $7.4M to support YouTubers with upfront capital in exchange for content licensing. The funding coincides with the launch of Spotter Studio, offering AI tools for creators.

🇦🇺 Australia plans to fine social media platforms up to 5% of global revenue for failing to stop misinformation, targeting elections and public health. Free speech concerns have been raised.

👩‍💻 YouTube launched tools to help creators detect AI-generated videos mimicking their voices or faces.

💌 Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after Tuesday's debate, while criticizing AI advancements in creating deep fakes that spread misinformation.

🥇 The Webby Awards, which award excellence on the internet, have introduced a new “Creators” category with awards for art, design and culture. 

👾 Roblox said it plans to share a greater percentage of revenue with its creators.

Presented by QuickBooks

Take the stress out of your hustle with QuickBooks

As a content creator, managing your money shouldn't be a headache. QuickBooks pulls together all your earnings and expenses from different platforms into one easy-to-use dashboard. Stay organized, handle taxes, and get back to focusing on what you do best—creating.

Give QuickBooks a try and simplify your finances today!

Why MrBeast might be the next BuzzFeed—and that’s a problem

MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is crushing it with massive YouTube success and a growing product empire. But Sam Lessin, a partner at Slow Ventures, warns that his trajectory could mirror BuzzFeed’s—starting strong with viral hits but eventually crashing when the platform game changes.

Why it matters: Both MrBeast and BuzzFeed built huge followings by exploiting social media algorithms. But as BuzzFeed showed, relying solely on viral content and platforms can lead to trouble. Lessin argues that MrBeast might face similar issues if his business model doesn’t adapt.

What creators should know: Lessin suggests that to avoid BuzzFeed’s fate, creators need to focus on niche markets and sustainable revenue beyond just ad dollars and viral content. The key is building a dedicated fanbase and diversifying income streams.

What’s next: MrBeast is still riding high, but if he wants to avoid the pitfalls that tripped up BuzzFeed, he needs to think about long-term stability. Adapting quickly and thinking beyond just viral content will be crucial for sustaining his empire.

TikTok’s new legal battle

TikTok faces a critical legal battle on Monday, arguing that a new law threatening to ban the app in January infringes on free speech. Despite this, many, including TikTok’s staff and partners, seem surprisingly calm.

Why it matters: This threat is more serious than past challenges. Unlike Trump’s 2020 executive order, which was blocked by the courts, this new bipartisan law demands TikTok’s sale from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, or a shutdown.

What’s different: Legal experts note that this law has stronger backing compared to the previous executive order. A Montana court’s recent block helps TikTok but doesn’t address national security concerns central to the new law.

What’s next: ByteDance hopes to delay the ban with an injunction and possibly negotiate with the next administration. Meanwhile, TikTok’s team is focused on meeting revenue goals amid the uncertainty.

The challenge: Redacted DOJ responses complicate TikTok’s defense, with potential delays if a “special master” reviews the redactions. As Rozenshtein notes, while classified info can be used, banning millions based on secret evidence is problematic.

Apple's 30% cut: How the tech giant became a villain to creators

Apple’s 30% in-app fee is hitting creator platforms hard, including Patreon, Substack, YouTube, and Instagram. This fee, applied to donations and purchases made on iOS, slashes creator earnings and frustrates industry insiders who feel Apple gives little in return.

Why it matters: Apple’s fee strategy, aimed at boosting its Services revenue, contrasts sharply with its past support for creatives. Creators now face higher costs to reach audiences, forcing them to either increase prices or absorb the hit themselves.

What’s different: Unlike YouTube, which offers ad services for its cut, Apple’s fee doesn’t come with significant added value. Its recent neglect in areas like podcasting and streaming, focusing mainly on Hollywood stars, further alienates creators.

What can creators do: Many are trying to bypass Apple’s fees by directing traffic to their websites or other platforms. Some, like creator economy advisor Jim Louderback, are even calling for a boycott of Apple products to protest the fees.

As Apple’s grip tightens, the tension between the tech giant and the creator economy continues to escalate.