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It’s less than 6 weeks until Christmas, but who’s counting? Not me, that’s for sure. Still, we have a bit of a way to go before we can start hanging up the bells, which is good because the thing about the creator economy is that it never slows down.
This week at Passionfruit, we’re busier than ever as we discuss big questions like why we need internet culture journalism, whether Donald Trump will save TikTok, and why everyone is suddenly doing lookalike competitions. So, strap yourself in and get reading to catch up on what you missed!
Why We Need Internet Culture Journalism More Than Ever
As the media landscape gets increasingly volatile, things need to change. As Steven Asarch explains in this article, internet culture was integral to Trump’s re-election, with controversial creators like Joe Rogan even being thanked by Dana White.
“Online culture is just culture — the way we interact, speak, and live is now mainly through a glass screen we keep next to our car keys,” Asarch writes. “The platforms that we exist on are controlled by tech oligarchs that have direct ties to the new government.”
As Asarch points out, internet culture is shaping the wider world, with right-wing personalities radicalizing young men. However, not many outlets are reporting on this because they fail to see the importance of internet culture. But the writing’s on the wall. In the next four years, especially, reporting on internet culture is crucial. Read the full article here.
Why We’re All Obsessed With Celebrity Lookalike Contests
On Oct. 27, a Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest was held at Washington Square Park in New York. It featured a $50 prize, four arrests, and the appearance of Timothee Chalamet himself.
You might be thinking to yourself, “Why does this matter?” But there are actually a few key reasons why it does. First of all, the contest was thought of by YouTuber Anthony Po, who ended up getting a $500 fine for hosting the event. Secondly, it sparked a chain reaction, with other contests taking place for doppelgangers of Harry Styles, Paul Mescal, and Dev Patel.
Thirdly, and most importantly, it’s exactly what we need during a pretty intense time right now. Being a little silly sometimes is necessary. You can read the full article here.
How to Not Get Demonetized on YouTube
In this guide, Merritt K shares how we can ensure we aren’t demonetized on YouTube. To ensure this, there are two main rules a YouTuber must follow: No repetitious content, and no reused content.
As Merritt explains, YouTube also emphasizes the importance of “creator integrity” and “creator responsibility.” Merritt also points to additional guidelines to ensure that videos are “advertiser-friendly.” To find out more, read the full guide here.
Introducing Spotify for Creators
On Nov. 13, Passionfruit attended Spotify’s annual “Now Playing” event. This ended up being a big night for creators, as the platform revealed that Spotify for Podcasters had been renamed Spotify for Creators. It also introduced an array of new tools for creators, including audio management, video management, analytics and monetization.
The platform also announced the Spotify Partner Program, which is set to launch in January 2025. This program enables creators in certain locations to earn ad revenue, even if their content is played off-platform.
In order to be eligible for monetization, there are a few criteria creators must meet: be a host on Spotify for Creators, reach 10,000+ streamed hours, have 2,000 unique listeners and 12+ published episodes in 30 days.
To find out more about Spotify for Creators, please read the article here.
Will President Trump Save TikTok?
Who would’ve thought we’d end up in a reality where Donald Trump becomes TikTok’s only hope? Unfortunately, as Lon Harris points out in his latest piece, that’s exactly where we are at right now. Back in the summer of 2020, Trump was one of the most vocal critics of TikTok. In fact, it was his idea to make a law that would force Bytedance to sever ties with TikTok in order to avoid being banned in the country.
But since Biden signed a similar law, Trump’s approach to TikTok has radically changed, with insiders telling the Washington Post that he’s now poised to “save” the app. Practically, reversing the legal proceedings against TikTok might be difficult, but as Harris puts it: “At this point in our political history, who can really be certain of anything?”
You can read the full article here.
Passionfruit on YouTube: Kristian Harloff on Deep Linkers
This week on Deep Linkers, we meet independent creator Kristian Harloff. The YouTuber, who is best known for his pop culture news and trivia shows, co-founded the Movie Trivia Schmoedown. He also contributes to the Collider Movie Talk show.
He’s especially knowledgeable about Star Wars, so much so that a 2016 Star Wars novel even named a planet after him! In Deep Linkers, he shares his thoughts on how the creator economy has evolved and why he’s now moving into the UAP beat.
GMMK 3 Pro HE Keyboard Review
The GMMK3 Pro HE Keyboard has a lot to offer. It boasts Hall Effect Switches, variable levels of durability, is bright and colorful, and is highly customizable, with the best part being that you don’t even have to do the customization.
But has it got enough bang for its buck? Its starting price, at $119.99, isn’t too bad. However, it’s worth noting that the add-ons can get pretty pricey. The unit configuration, for instance, costs $390.
You can read the full review here.
