And just like that, Christmas is over. We’re now in that peculiar void part of the year where all sense of time and meaning has been suctioned into a black hole. We’re talking turkey sandwiches for days and a constant stream of re-runs.
We often talk about the creator economy as a chaotic place, but for once, we can provide some order among the chaos as we provide you with a round-up of what’s been going on with Passionfruit this week. So, put those turkey sandwiches down and have a read!
Trump Is Softening Over TikTok
You just know we had to add the latest chapter of the TikTok story. Back on Dec. 22, the incoming President made an appearance at Turning Point’s America Fest. While he was there, he talked through how crucial the app was to his re-election.
“They brought me a chart, and it was a record, and it was so beautiful to see, and as I looked at it, I said, ‘Maybe we gotta keep this sucker around for a little while,’” he said.
To that end, TikTok CEO Shou Chew has already visited Trump, but we won’t know whether he’ll put his money where his mouth is until Jan. 20 at the earliest: a day after the app is due to be banned.
To read more on Trump’s U-turn, click here.
Passionfruit Rewind: Memorable Moments from 2024
Including a round-up within a round-up might feel like some kind of journalism inception, but it was so good we really couldn’t resist. This article takes us on a journey of some of the most memorable creator economy and pop culture moments we’ve had at Passionfruit this year.
Honorable mentions include Andrew Garfield on Chicken Shop Date, Meatcanyon’s horrifying YouTube shorts, the rise of the Costco Guys and the Rizzler, and, of course, holding space for Defying Gravity.
You can read the full piece here.
Threads Debuts ‘Use Media’ Feature — And Creators Aren’t Happy
This week, Threads released a new feature designed to help creators — but it completely blew up in its face. The “use media” feature helps users repost other users’ photos and videos on their own as opposed to “quote” posts.
“This is a quick, easy way to add your creative takes to trending images and clips without quote posting,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a Threads post. These reposts will be accompanied by a watermark crediting the original poster, but as many creators argued, this isn’t enough. In furious Threads comments, content creators said that this will make it easier than ever for accounts to use other creators’ content to engagement farm.
You can read more about what creators said here.
Why the Men in the Lily Phillips’ Documentary Are the Real Victims
Lily Phillips has been the subject of intense discourse recently, as the adult creator went through with her vow to sleep with a hundred men in one day. The feat was filmed as part of a documentary, and to put it lightly, it was a harrowing watch. The cameraman gagged at the smell after entering the room after filming, while Phillips broke down in tears and admitted that she dissociated for a large portion of the process.
But while many think pieces have cast Phillips as the victim, Passionfruit writer Liz Plank offered an alternative perspective. “Admittedly, even I, a woman, had unconsciously judged Phillips before watching the documentary, expecting a tale of victimhood and exploitation,” Plank writes. “That’s how deeply patriarchy has conditioned us to view women’s sexuality: if they dare to monetize their bodies, they must be victims, stripped of agency.”
You can read the full piece here.
What Happens When You Give MrBeast a Bad Review?
On Dec. 22, the first two episodes of Beast Games were released. While Jimmy ‘MrBeast’ Donaldson no doubt wanted the show to arrive with a bang, it arrived with no more than a whimper. Reviews of the show were less than favorable, but one review that really stood out was Chase Hutchinson’s on IGN. He ended up giving the show a 2/10 rating, describing it as “dull.”
After a MrBeast fan brought up the review on X, Donaldson let a rip on the social media platform, writing: “Sad one person who doesn’t like me can just label something a thousand people poured their lives into a 2/10 when it’s clearly not.”
But is everything as it seems? We interviewed IGN reviewer Chase Hutchinson to find out — read the piece here.
Financial Tools For Creators
Making money as a creator is great, but sometimes, managing our finances can be a little difficult. Fortunately, thanks to writer Merrit K, Passionfruit has broken down some key financial tools for content creators. The app ‘You Need A Budget,’ for instance, helps creators track important things like savings goals, rent, and utilities.
Tools like ProjectionLab help to protect your savings, while Bluevine and Grasshopper assist viewers in simplifying taxes.
To learn more about the best tools to help creators with their finances, read the full piece here.
