July 3rd and the Creators’ Dilemma
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #149 | July 6, 2023 Is it just me, or did we do the Fourth of July all wrong this year? I’m no Earth scientist (I just play one on blah blah blah, you get the picture), but according to my calculations — based mainly on nostalgic memories of long weekends spent…
By
Drew Grant
Why would Elon Musk limit views on his own platform?
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #148 | July 4, 2023 Over the weekend, Twitter owner Elon Musk announced sweeping controversial changes to Twitter, including temporary limits on how many tweets people can read daily (6,000 posts for verified users, 600 for non-verified users) and preventing users that are not logged into an account from viewing tweets. Musk…
By
Grace Stanley
All Aboard Colleen Ballinger’s Toxic Gossip Train
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #147 | June 29, 2023 All aboard the toxic gossip train. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, boy, do we have a story for you. YouTuber Colleen Ballinger, widely known as alter ego Miranda Sings, finally responded to those accusing her of forming inappropriate relationships with young fans. How,…
By
Grace Stanley
VidCon 2023: Elf Bars & Egos
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #146 | June 27, 2023 Instagram Night Out is an invite-only VidCon event where 800 creators peacock, network, and hope to make agency and industry connections that will lead to better business deals. The splashy VidCon event occurred at a boozy music venue, the City National Grove of Anaheim, which has seen…
By
Grace Stanley
VidCon 2023: Squishmellow Pits and Celebrity Sightings
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #145 | June 22, 2023 Oh, the joys of VidCon. If you aren’t packed in an Anaheim hotel elevator with kids and families—some in “Minecraft” merch, others in Mickey Mouse ears—are you really experiencing VidCon? VidCon is the go-to convention for video creators to meet fans, rub shoulders with brands, and party.…
By
Grace Stanley
The ‘Traumageddon’ Reckoning
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #144 | June 20, 2023 Youtuber Colleen Ballinger is currently facing an onslaught of allegations of grooming and inappropriate behavior from former young fans and employees. Though the situation, known as “traumageddon,” may seem like niche influencer drama, it’s actually indicative of how creators have come to hold each other accountable. I’ll…
By
Kelsey Weekman
Creators Face an Existential Crisis. But Help is On the Way.
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #143 | June 15, 2023 Today’s newsletter is presented by Detail, a powerful all-in-one app for video creators at every level. Use Passionfruit’s referral link to try out their new iOS app Detail Duo, which allows you to dual record, edit and post directly from your phone. SPONSORED Detail Duo is the…
By
Drew Grant
The Creator Labor Economy is Broken. Pay Your Mods Anyway.
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #142 | June 13, 2023 Don’t adjust your screens, we’re trying out some new stuff here on the newsletter. Starting with this long overdue meet-and-greet: Hi! I’m Drew Grant, and I’m the managing editor of Passionfruit. If you’ve noticed we’ve been shifting around our content coverage, I’m the person to blame for…
By
Drew Grant
Streamers Rally Against ‘Anti-Creator’ Policies From Twitch
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #141 | June 8, 2023 Just 24 hours after announcing a sweep of stringent restrictions on branded content on Tuesday, Twitch backtracked Wednesday, removing the changes due to creator backlash. Creators were furious at the new policies, rightfully calling the changes “anti-creator” for making sponsorships far more difficult and expensive for streamers…
By
Grace Stanley
Long Gone Are the Days of Facetune
CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #140 | June 6, 2023 Long gone are the days of Facetune, of merely erasing the occasional zit or lightening dark circles after a late-night out on a static, good morning post. Now, with new filters from TikTok, you have the power to completely transform your face on video, warping your eyes…
By
Grace Stanley