👩💻 These Creators Are Keeping Their Day Jobs
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #96 | Dec. 29, 2022 For many, quitting a 9-to-5 job to pursue content creation full-time is a dream. However, there are a growing number of creators who are rejecting this move—even when they are able to earn enough off social media to make a living. Instead, they are keeping their…
By
Grace Stanley
🎶 Meet the Music Men of TikTok
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #95 | Dec. 27, 2022 Rodger Cleye and Ian Rae are two creators that especially stood out on TikTok in 2022, united by their love for music. Beloved clips and meme-ified fan edits of amateur singer Cleye, singing along to Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, and Christina Perri, became a viral sensation…
By
Grace Stanley
🏆 Passionfruit’s Picks of 2022
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #94 | Dec. 22, 2022 Welcome to Passionfruit’s Picks of 2022, a year-end list celebrating some of the most stand-out creators of the year. With these selections, we hope to bring attention to just a few of the creators who can teach us something about what it means to make an…
By
Grace Stanley
🤖 Creators Speak Out Against AI Art
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #93 | Dec. 20, 2022 This month, discourse around artificial intelligence (AI) art picked up traction once again since the technology’s emergence years ago, after viral filters and software like MyHeritage AI and Lensa blew up on TikTok. TikTokers are infatuated with how MyHeritage showcases “you” from different historical periods using…
By
Grace Stanley
🪦 Twitter Isn’t Dead—But Are Its Competitors?
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #92 | Dec. 15, 2022 Over a month since Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, the platform still seems to be in chaos. Just this week, the company caught heat for disbanding its Trust and Safety council. It then confused creators with the launch of a gold and blue verification checkmark system.…
By
Grace Stanley
💰 What Can We Learn From YouTube’s All-Time Top Earners?
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #91 | Dec. 13, 2022 Top-earning YouTubers rake in millions of dollars each year from brand deals, merchandising, and launching product lines. While TikTok won the attention of many Gen Zers, the top earner on TikTok in 2021, Charli D’Amelio, only earned $17.5 million. That’s less than what the top nine…
By
Grace Stanley
📈 Adobe Shares Its Biggest Trends for Creators
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #90 | Dec. 8, 2022 2022 has some unforgettable trends. The resurge of shows like Euphoria, the Y2K aesthetic, and the slice-of-life social media app BeReal are just a few viral moves that shook the internet this year. This week, Adobe, a technology company that makes some of the most popular…
By
Grace Stanley
🧑🔬 Can Science Creators and Brand Deals Co-Exist?
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #89 | Dec. 6, 2022 Creators who make science content need to make a living like the rest of us. But unlike creators in some other fields, science creators face serious ethical questions when it comes to monetizing through brand partnerships. This week, Passionfruit contributor Sabina Wex spoke with multiple creators…
By
Grace Stanley
😰 Should Creators Complain About Their Jobs?
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #88 | Dec. 1, 2022 While many creators face unpredictable income, pay disparity, and burnout, the public perception of the influencer lifestyle is often luxurious. Because of this, creators can face a lot of heat when they complain about their jobs. This week, Passionfruit contributor Eve Upton-Clark spoke with creators and…
By
Grace Stanley
📣 Autistic Creators Speak Out
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #84 | Nov. 29, 2022 Many neurodivergent creators use social media platforms to combat stigma and spread awareness around their lives. Hashtags like #autism, #autistic, and #neurodiversity gained billions of views on platforms like TikTok in recent years. However, while TikTok has been a place of great representation and community for…
By
Grace Stanley