YOU.0: Some Assembly Required

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


Yay, it’s almost time for the season’s best non-denominational holiday: New Year’s Eve. And with it, prerequisite New Year’s Resolutions. In the future, our mutant great-grandchildren (powered by Grok) will convey via Neuralink to Gen X AE A-XV (the autonomous driverless tanks with human souls generation) about the funny trick humans liked to play on themselves because they were bored in the dark and cold, and there were still seasons to have affected disorders about. 

And it’s true: Resolutions are ultimatums without consequences. OKRs without a review process. It’s a promise you can make to yourself now about some future, better self – a You.0(™) if you will – and there’s zero cost besides the residual shame and depression that carries over like an FSA premium. Why is it that when we talk about fresh starts and clean slates, our first instinct is to saddle ourselves with all these hyper-regimented rules and goals made by OLD You?

We treat resolutions like the obligatory annual iPhone trade-in, which still ends up costing us $450 upfront and $30 a month on an installment plan till the next millennia or until the sun burns out. (Whichever comes first. Void where prohibited.) 

It’s not surprising that every year, we as creators – or just as people, really – are always looking to upgrade to the latest, shiniest version of ourselves. One with faster processing power, a longer battery life, and the ability to filter out sensitive content before it registers in our psyche. Powered by AI, the You.0(™) will absorb salient information without having to read a whole article or listen to a whole podcast. This year, we’ll have Productivity Mode, with customizable options for FOCUS and SLEEP.


THE COMMENTS SECTION


You’ll be so in tune with your body, constantly monitoring every vital, but like, in this totally non-intrusive way where you barely have to think about it. Come January 1st, we will wake up to find that we no longer have to check a watch to tell us that we should drink water or stand up for ten minutes. (Which is great because who knows how long we’ll have the new Apple Watches back in stock.)

Where am I going with all this? Don’t worry, I’ve got you. This year, as creators, I want us all to make one resolution: to no longer treat ourselves as disposable products. There’s only one You(™): a one-of-one, Grailed limited release that will never be reissued.  

Extremely Chuck Palahniuk voice: You are not your follower count, your likes, your streamable hours, your comment section. You are not a product, you are not a process. You were not made to optimize an algorithm or maximize monetization. You are not expendable; there’s no warranty coverage on you. When you crack, no one is going to come reassemble you or your money back. 

You are a human, flawed and imperfect and not always logical – hence why you’re making these resolutions in the first place – and there’s no overnight system update to be a better person. Take it one step at a time…and don’t worry about closing the ring. For now, at least, there’s still tomorrow.


NOTED BY LON HARRIS

The Best, Worst, and Most Oddly Compelling Content That Hit Our Screens This Year


A vlogging kit that’s truly pro-level

Created to meet the needs of storytellers, filmmakers, and content creators, the PRO Vlogger kit from Joby features the ultimate on-camera vlogging microphone, Wavo PRO, and the strongest GorillaPod to date, the 5k PRO. Known and loved by the biggest creators around the world, this is the kit you need to produce pro-level, viral-worthy content.


IN THE BIZ


CULTURE

All Our Brains Are Rotting

Are we generation brain-rot?

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

woman with goldfish and clocks in the background

TIPS & TRICKS

Demystifying Influencer Laws: A Legal Guide for Content Creators

Practical guidance from a legal expert to help you confidently maneuver the complexities of influencer laws.

By Veronica Ramirez, Passionfruit Contributor


YOUTUBE MADE ME DO IT

Content for Creators.

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

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • 💼 This Former YouTuber Can Help Expand Your Reach

    💼 This Former YouTuber Can Help Expand Your Reach

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 62 | August 25, 2022 It’s not easy to step away from a successful YouTube career. Cat Valdes, better known online as Catrific, was an early YouTuber who rose to fame alongside vloggers like Dan Howell, Phil Lester, Joey Graceffa, and Shane Dawson. Over time, Valdes found that her heart wasn’t…

  • 💪 Take Advice From This Multi-Hyphenate Creator

    💪 Take Advice From This Multi-Hyphenate Creator

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 61 | August 23, 2022 Artists from all sectors of the entertainment industry leverage social media to amass audiences for themselves, apart from the followings of their bands, shows, and movies. Like many other influencers, they have to juggle their day jobs with content creation, but they also often have the…

  • 🎭 TikTok Puppets Called Out for Homophobia

    🎭 TikTok Puppets Called Out for Homophobia

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 60 | August 18, 2022 An unusual controversy began brewing last month on TikTok when a puppet who made Star Wars-related content was called out for saying Disney used the “homosexual agenda” to increase profits. As a result, other puppet masters chimed in to denounce the account, Star Wars Dinx, and…