Helloooooo creators!

I hope everyone’s week is off to a great start and the last weekend of July was filled with fun n sun. I hung out with a longtime creator friend and my first mentor in the creator space over the weekend & it was a blast nerding out about all things content creation 😎 

I always say that being a creator is a super lonely game as you’re always working in a silo. So creators, be sure to go hang with some of your creator friends when you’re feeling burnt out, this weekend was absolutely a reminder of that for me!

But enough about me and my weekend, let’s dive into the latest in creator economy news!

-Luke

Stalking Creators for Views 😨 

There’s a recent trend in the creator space, namely on YouTube, of smaller content creators trying to collaborate with larger creators in order to grow their following or get their names out more.

Except it’s less of a collaboration and more of a surprise attack, forcing creators like MrBeast or Logan Paul to be in their videos.

I’m covering this story as I recently watched a video by a creator named Pinely who makes videos about all things YouTube, content creation, & trends. In his most recent upload, Pinely pushed out a video titled ‘Stalking MrBeast For Clout.’

This video was my first introduction to Pinely, but his content all about YouTubers, minute trends in the space, massive creators, and beyond captured my interest immediately. Pinely is essentially a social scientist, studying the world of content creation and giving us play-by-play breakdowns.

In this video by Pinely, he speaks on the topic that I opened with; stalking creators for views.

Pinely breaks down the history of this trend, starting with Airrack utilizing Logan Paul in his early videos to drive more views. While these videos may have been new and entertaining at the time, they began a breed of content creators looking to do the same thing with other large names in the creator space.

He then goes on to talk about creators like Matthew Beem & the guy who tried to hug Elon Musk, drawing ties between what Airrack did and what these individuals are doing today.

While there is no massive takeaway at the end of this video, I do believe that Pinely sheds light on the interesting world of parasocial relationships between creators and other creators.

While a parasocial relationship is mainly tied to fans, it can even happen among creators like in these scenarios. This is something that I believe budding creators really need to look out for and be careful not to overstep boundaries.

Although you may feel like you know a content creator because you resonate with their content (and maybe you even create content similar to them), you still need to treat them as if they are a stranger, because, well… they are!

Imagine if a random person ran up to you with a camera and just started capturing content. Maybe you’re going to get groceries or just hanging out in your house, the last thing you’d want to hear is “WHATSUP GUYS?! TODAY I’M….”

Yea… don’t be that guy/girl.

So before you head to North Carolina to find Jimmy, think to yourself: “Is this weird? Would I want this happening to me?”

Let me know your thoughts on the parasocial relationship between creators and other creators by replying to this email!

Creator Economy News 🚨

This week in the creator world, creating AI versions of creators, a Jake Paul Netflix Doc, Snapchat going down, France taking aim at influencers, Linktree updates, and more:

• Streaming giant xQc has moved off of Twitch and now streams exclusively on Kick. And now, less than a month later, someone has created an AI version of him on the platform he just left. It’s already at 15k followers… Read more & share your thoughts on this on my LI post!

• France is cracking down on influencers by adding restrictions to what they’re allowed to post, advertise, and disclose. Some regulations that we know of already are not promoting cosmetic surgeries, medical devices, or nicotine, and they’re also not allowed to speak against certain treatments. Honestly, fair play France, I like it.

• Jake Paul is set to launch a Netflix documentary all about his life. I’m just gonna leave it at that and let you read the comments on the trailer… the sentiment is uhhh, not great to say the least. 😅 

• Seems like Discord is taking aim at Patreon with the latest server subscription updates. Creators can now receive donations from server users. Tiers include Supporter ($3.99), Supporter + ($4.99), Super Supporter ($9.99) & Early Access Pass ($7.99).

As I always mention, let me know your thoughts on anything covered in the newsletter by replying to this email! I absolutely love hearing from my readers, it makes my week when I hear your thoughts, so don’t be shy!!

(Shoutout to you, Konrad 🍻)

You should see these 👀

• Linktree is now offering Threads integration, but then again, more than half of the users who signed up for Threads do not use the app anymore. That was a wild few weeks huh?

• Check out these tips from some of the biggest creator names in the space from VidCon! These shorts tackle advice and tips on content from top creators, most importantly, how to make money on YouTube.

• Snapchat’s user base continues to grow, but it’s not all peachy. The social giant continues to see a loss of revenue this quarter, dropping revenue by 4% and sending stocks down due to the bleak outlook.

Creator Spotlight 🔦

Meet Mick Whipple, AKA Betting On Alaska!

Mick is a very young creator who just graduated high school and quickly decided to live out an ‘Into the Wild’ type lifestyle by heading straight to Alaska. Buying a plot of land and filling his car with his life, Mick sent it North to build his new life.

Now, while some may compare Mick to Into the Wild’s Chris McCandless, Mick is far more prepared than McCandless was. Albeit prepared, Mick does draw parallels between himself and the Supertramp in a recent video. While it’s easy to make an assumption about the risk being taken, when you watch Mick’s videos, you can tell he’s going to thrive in the great wild.

When I first found Mick’s channel, I was immediately hooked. From the enthralling camera work to his beautiful storytelling through voiceovers, I could tell that he would resonate with many other adventurers to live vicariously through his content.

With Mick pushing eight videos out over the last two months, we can see him begin to develop his life in the great Alaskan wilderness. From clearing his new land by hand to building the foundation of his new home, Mick is capturing every step of his journey, and I’m sure we’ll be taken on some wild adventures over the course of his channel.

I could go on all day about Mick and his decision to live amongst nature, but I’d rather you watch his content and hear his story.

[Check Out Mick’s Channel]

Want to go even further? 🚀

If you’d like to keep learning about topics like the ones shared above, stick around! But more importantly, check out the links below to further your development as a creator. 😎

1. Sign up for CreatorPad

2. Join our free creator community

3. Find a personal mentor to learn from