CREATOR NEWSLETTER
Issue #129 | April 27, 2023
Oh boy, the Twitter drama never stops coming. Remember when Elon Musk said all legacy verified accounts not subscribed to Twitter Blue would lose their blue tick on April 1? Well, most of them did on April 20, but some high-profile creators kept their check marks, with a note misleadingly saying they paid for Twitter Blue.
Many of these accounts, including Steven King, Lil Nas X, Alyssa Milano, and Kara Swisher, stressed online that they did not pay for Twitter Blue—and they definitely did not want to be seen as someone who would.
In a piece for Passionfruit, reporter Charlotte Colombo breaks down the “impossible choice” for smaller creators looking to grow their art and business online. Should you pay for Twitter Blue for its perks, but risk looking like a clout-chasing sell-out?
Also, did anyone else hear about the viral ‘Fake Drake’ AI song this month? This week, Passionfruit contributor Patricia Grisafi explains how the AI-generated song, written by an anonymous user known as Ghostwriter, sparked debate about the ethics of AI-generated creativity and the music industry at wide.
– Grace Stanley, Newsletter Editor
POLICY WOES
Elon Musk’s new Twitter verified policy leaves small creators with an impossible choice
Guess that’s why they call it the Blues.
By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor
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ONE GREAT TIP
“Be on more platforms. Being on more platforms increases your reach and the possibilities of finding more people to enjoy your content.”
—Gamer Loeya shares advice for fellow creators. Read more in our 2022 interview.
NEW FRONTIERS
The ‘Fake Drake’ song and the future of AI-generated creativity
‘I hope the major labels are feeling pressure.’
By Patricia Grisafi, Passionfruit Contributor
TOOLS REVIEW
The best TikTok LED lights for every creator
Step into the light.
By John-Michael Bond, Passionfruit Contributor
IN THE BIZ
- The Webby Awards, featuring the “best of the Internet,” announced its winners, including creators like Emmanuel Duverneau, Anthony Padilla, Unnecesary Inventions, and Lisa Zimouche.
- Bluesky Social, a Twitter alternative app backed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, received viral attention this week as writers and creators joined its exclusive invite-only beta testing program.
- Another Twitter alternative, T2, is also rolling out invites for an early launch.
- Meta announced today that it’s introducing new body, hair, and clothing options for its virtual avatars, allowing creators to lean into more V-Tuber-esque personas on the platform.
- Meanwhile, TikTok announced it is launching its own digital avatars—this time, AI-generated.
- It seems companies are rolling out new AI features every day. Microsoft Designer, a graphic design tool, announced new AI features for designing social media posts.
- Rival graphic design tool Canva also went viral on TikTok last week for AI-powered tools that allow users to add and change clothing in their images.
TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT
The verdict is out. TikTok sentenced me to Jury Duty. 👩⚖️
