TikTok Secrets Exposed

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


January 19 was supposed to be the day TikTok closed forever in the United States. The US government decided that the video-hosting platform threatened national security and must be sold away from Chinese company ByteDance. Before its fond farewell, many creators fearing losing their platforms chose to have one last hurrah and air out their TikTok secrets.

However, the app was only down for 16 hours, with Trump pushing the sale back at least 75 days, leading to these confessionals staying up much longer than creators thought.

The most popular format featured a Family Guy clip in which patriarch Peter Griffin shares a hot take while drowning. Influencers from all across genres shared their darkest TikTok secrets over Peter’s voice. Some were clearly not that serious.

People confessed their sketch characters weren’t real and that seemingly spontaneous interviews were scripted. Someone admitted they never actually used specialty ice cubes in their cooking videos.

Even TikTok’s original viral star Charli D’Amelio got in on the action. The creator confessed that in a 2020 viral video, she wasn’t smoking “an anxiety pen.” D’Amelio also admitted she still has no idea what an “anxiety pen” even is.

However, others received much more attention, testing the strength of their parasocial relationships.


PLATFORMS

…And TikTok Is Back Again (For Now)

Hand holding phone with message that says "welcome back! thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump's efforts, Tiktok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to creature, share, and discover all the things you love on tiktok! Continue."

Stop Eating Plastic When You Cook

Let’s face it…pretty much everything is leaching plastic into our bodies. Caraway Home founder Jordan Nathan got “Teflon Flu” (a real thing, Google it) and set out to change that unfortunate reality, at least in your kitchen (and his). Everything they make is toxic free and non-stick, and their 5 year anniversary collection looks incredible. Check them out.


IN THE BIZ


PLATFORMS

Instagram Introduces Edits, a CapCut-Style Editing App

The timing is more than a little suspicious.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

Instagram Introduces CapCut-Style Editing App

CULTURE

Creators Find Themselves Embroiled In Drake, UMG Lawsuit

According to the lawsuit, UMG launched a campaign to make ‘Not Like Us’ go viral.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor


JOB BOARD


WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • A Substacker on Covering the Supreme Court

    A Substacker on Covering the Supreme Court

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #296 | Dec. 5, 2024 – Taylor Lorenz, Passionfruit Contributor PLATFORMS When Platforms Fail: A Case Study in YouTube’s Creator Support Gap Why it’s so hard to get “customer service” from video platforms.  By Lon Harris, Passionfruit Contributor → READ THE FULL STORY SPONSORED If the above image got you excited, you should read this Sorry, this…

  • Holding Space for Your Audience

    Holding Space for Your Audience

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #295 | Dec. 3, 2024 You know, as someone who works in queer media (ba-dum tss), it’s clear that the Wicked movie has the internet in a fingerhold (booo hisss). Surviving its much-debated melodramatic press tour and Spongebob-themed extramarital allegations, the Wicked franchise has undeniably doused the world in pink and green. As Charlotte Colombo writes this week, even if…

  • Zzz…

    Zzz…

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #294 | Nov. 28, 2024 – The Passionfruit team TIPS & TRICKS 5 Creators on How to Plan for Time Off During the Holiday Season  Creators are businesses in themselves, and often feel like they can’t take a break. But with the proper planning, creators can take time off too. By Jen Glantz, Passionfruit Contributor READ…