The theme of this week’s weekend round-up is internet personalities. Some creators, like Lilly Singh and MrBeast, are launching new projects. Others, like Patrick H Wilhems, stopped by Deep Linkers to discuss his craft.
Meanwhile, Passionfruit contributor Liz Plank made the rounds at SXSW, asking various internet personalities about their thoughts on AI, while Andrew Fiouzi, a Passionfruit editor, wrestled with an important question: should White House officials be internet personalities? This round-up will raise some important questions, and, as always will point you in the direction of an answer. Happy reading!
We Asked Creators At SXSW What They Think AI Will Never Do Better Than Humans
With the explosive rise of AI, it looks like all those science fiction movies were right: AI really is taking over the world. Within the creator economy, AI has automated a number of tasks usually left to the creator.
This includes things like scriptwriting, the creation of art, and video editing. But while some creators want to fight back against AI (and have done with strikes), others are accepting that the whole thing is pretty much inevitable.
This inspired Passionfruit writer Liz Plank to attend our SXSW event with a mission: to ask creators what they think is the one thing AI can never do better than humans.
The answers are clever, surprising, and sometimes, touching. You can read the full piece here.
We Might Actually Meet the ‘Ban or Sell’ Deadline
JD Vance, who has been put in charge of brokering a TikTok deal, provided a promising update on March 14. During an interview with NBC News, he skated around the possibility of a deadline extension but noted that there would “almost certainly” be a done deal by the April 5 deadline.
He said: “I think whether it’s through an extension, or whether it’s through actually just getting the deal in place satisfies the national security concerns, I think we’re going to be in a place where we can say TikTok is operational, and it’s also operational in a way that’s protective of Americans’ data privacy and America’s national security.”
While Vance didn’t specify who TikTok’s US buyer would be, several reports claim that TikTok’s US-based buyer is Oracle, the cloud platform that already handles TikTok’s US data as part of an operation called ‘Project Texas.’
“We’re trying to close this thing by early April,” Vance added. “I think that the outlines of this thing will be very clear. The question is whether we can get all the paper done.”
You can read the full piece here.
What is Bluesky? Everything You Need To Know About the X Replacement
Since Elon Musk took over X (formerly called Twitter), the platform has never been the same. It went from the internet’s town square to a hollow echo chamber of right-wing fanatics with the occasional bot thrown in. It’s a shadow of its former self, and from the outset, it became clear that netizens needed a replacement.
The likes of Mastodon and Threads have failed to capture the attention of netizens, but there’s one alternative that’s a lot more promising: Bluesky. Previously invite-only, the platform offers all the perks of peak Twitter without the alt-right craziness. As of November 2024, it is the most popular X alternative.
Navigating a whole new social media platform can be intimidating, but luckily, we’re here to answer all your burning questions.
For everything you need to know about Bluesky, check out our guide here.
In Defense of the White House Influencer
McLaurine Pinover, communications director at the Office of Personnel Management, sparked debate when she started posting some very influencer-like content from her office in the White House. One video, for instance, included her promoting her skirt and providing a direct purchase link to followers.
Due to the serious nature of her role, many have been critical of this video. Does it send the right message? Do fashion videos really have a place in the White House?
In this article, Passionfruit editor Andrew Fiouzi argues that Pinover is far from the first person to integrate posting into her day-to-day job, citing the online presence of senior political figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. However, he does agree that some form of regulation needs to be set.
You can read the full piece here.
Lilly Singh Launches HYPHEN8, a YouTube Network for South Asian Creators
Superwoman stans, rise up. YouTuber Lilly Singh has announced a major project that might well reshape the creator economy as we know it. The initiative, which is called HYPHEN8, is the first influencer network made specifically for South Asian creators.
In an interview with Entrepreneur, Singh shared that she was inspired by her own experience as a woman of color in the creator space back in the 2010s. “When I began posting on YouTube in 2010, there weren’t many resources to create content, especially for someone that looks like me,” she said.
According to the outlet, HYPHEN8 will help creators with monetization, brand partnerships, and direct advertising deals.
To learn more about HYPHEN8 and Singh’s vision, check out the full article here.
The Stakes Are Higher in Beast Games Season 2 With $15 Million In Prizes
After a… memorable season 1, Beast Games is back for season 2 on Amazon Prime. In an Instagram post, MrBeast himself confirmed that the casting process has begun for the second season. This time round, contestants will be competing for $15 million worth of cash and prizes: a stark increase from last season’s $10 million jackpot.
But the question is, will throwing money at a new season of Beast Games solve all its problems? Contestants from season 1 had such a bad time that they ended up suing MrBeast, while a Beast Games crew member allegedly almost died in an accident on-set.
As MrBeast steams on with no signs of reflection, at least some of Beast Games’ core issues will likely remain.
To learn more, check out our piece here.
Passionfruit on YouTube: Deep Linkers Episode 12
With over half a million subscribers, Patrick H Willems has built a career as an astute and savvy video essayist. His eclectic collection of video essays ranges from the rise and fall of Muppet cinema to the Fast and Furious saga. This demonstrates his range as a video essayist in the film space.
In this episode of Deep Linkers, Willems tells us all about how he went from an aspiring filmmaker to the slick video essayist he is today. We discuss how he honed his craft, his growth as a creator and how he thinks he shaped the video essay space as a whole. To watch the whole video, click above.
