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Rolling Stone Reveals Its 2026 Influential Social Creators List

Rolling Stone Reveals Its 2026 Influential Social Creators List

Rolling Stone has placed Druski first in its 2026 ranking of 25 digital creators, ahead of IShowSpeed and a field spanning streaming, education, scripted video, beauty and food. The Rolling Stone 2026 creators list shows how the publication weighed audience size, growth, engagement and editorial judgment across distinct creator formats. Key Takeaways Druski leads the 25-person ranking with 41 million followers across platforms. IShowSpeed ranks second, while Kai Cenat, Ms Rachel and Dhar Mann occupy Nos. 4 through 6. The opening group covers comedy, livestreaming, education, scripted skits, gaming and lifestyle content. Rolling Stone considered follower counts, growth, engagement rates and editorial assessment. Druski, born Drew Desbordes, leads Rolling Stone’s published ranking with 41 million followers. His social-first sketch format ranks ahead of IShowSpeed, Kai Cenat, Ms Rachel, Dhar Mann and Markiplier. Druski Leads as Sketch Comedy Reaches Larger Productions Druski built a repeatable online format through character-driven sketches, including his role as the demanding head of fictional label Coulda Been Records. The premise gave his videos a recognizable identity across original posts, reposts, reaction clips and collaborations. Rolling Stone cited his 2026 BET Awards hosting role and work adapting established sketches into longer Hollywood productions. The publication presented those

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Influencer Trips Shift as Brands Rethink Creator ROI

Influencer Trips Shift as Brands Rethink Creator ROI

Influencer trips are becoming smaller, shorter and more flexible as brands including Mango, J.Crew, TRESemmé, Rhode, Gucci and Net-a-Porter rethink how creator travel campaigns are structured and measured. The shift matters because marketers are looking beyond reach alone, using engagement, earned media value, social listening and longer-term advocacy to assess impact. Key Takeaways Brands including Mango, J.Crew, TRESemmé, Rhode, Gucci and Net-a-Porter have used creator trips as part of recent marketing campaigns. J.Crew has favored shorter trips with fewer prescribed activities, giving participating creators greater flexibility. Mango has evaluated creator campaigns using social listening and earned media value alongside visibility. Brands are considering organic engagement, reusable content and longer-term creator advocacy when assessing campaign performance. Swan Beauty sponsored a creator’s bachelorette trip, illustrating an alternative to the conventional brand-organized influencer trip.   Mango, J.Crew, TRESemmé, Rhode, Gucci and Net-a-Porter are among the brands that have used creator travel as part of their marketing activity. The examples point to a broader focus on audience fit and the content produced around an experience rather than simply the number of creators invited. Smaller groups can give brands more room to work with creators whose audiences align with a particular campaign. That approach also

Google Adds Creator Tools to Pixel 11 Camera App

Google Adds Creator Tools to Pixel 11 Camera App

Google is adding a Creator Suite to the Pixel 11 camera app with tools including a teleprompter, vocal enhancer, external microphone controls and social-media frame guides. The features are designed for influencers and independent creators who record and publish content from their phones without dedicated production teams or professional equipment. Key Takeaways Google introduced the Pixel 11 Creator Suite as a creator-focused camera mode. The suite includes a teleprompter, vocal enhancer, external microphone levels and social-media frame guides. Google says the tools are intended to make recording and publishing content easier and faster. The features target creators producing content independently with limited production resources. Pixel camera team lead Isaac Reynolds described the tools as a way to streamline creator workflows.   The suite is designed around creators who produce content independently. Its features address several parts of the recording process, including reading prepared material, managing vocal quality, controlling an external microphone and positioning subjects for social-media formats. The Creator Suite functions as a dedicated camera mode for content production, with several creator-focused controls available during recording. The focus on creator-specific technology also fits within a wider set of tools being adopted across the creator economy. Recent creator-economy research has documented

Meta Launches Muse Glimmer AI Model for Local Tasks

Meta Launches Muse Glimmer AI Model for Local Tasks

Meta has launched Muse Glimmer, an open-weight AI model designed to perform agentic tasks locally on consumer computers. The release adds a new model to Meta’s AI portfolio and supports the company’s stated push toward more accessible open-weight artificial intelligence. Key Takeaways Meta launched Muse Glimmer as a new open-weight AI model. The model is designed to perform agentic tasks locally on consumer computers. Muse Glimmer can run on a Mac or PC equipped with a single graphics card. Meta announced plans to release the weights for Muse Spark 1.2. Mark Zuckerberg has advocated for broader access to open-weight AI models.   Meta has introduced Muse Glimmer as a new open-weight AI model built to handle agentic tasks on personal computing devices. The launch gives users and developers access to a model designed for local operation rather than requiring every task to be processed through a remote computing environment. The model is part of Meta’s Muse family of artificial intelligence systems. Meta previously introduced Muse Spark as the first model in the series through Meta Superintelligence Labs. Muse Spark was developed as a multimodal reasoning model with support for tool use and multi-agent orchestration. The release comes as creators are

Disney and TikTok Launch Creator Program for Disney+ Content

Disney and TikTok Launch Creator Program for Disney+ Content

Disney has partnered with TikTok to launch a U.S. creator initiative that allows eligible creators to produce Disney-themed short-form videos using approved franchise assets. Selected content will also appear on Disney+’s Verts feed, expanding opportunities for creators while extending Disney’s short-form video strategy. Key Takeaways Disney and TikTok announced a creator partnership centered on short-form videos. Eligible creators will have access to approved assets from Disney-owned franchises. Selected creator videos will appear on both TikTok and Disney+’s Verts feed. The initiative launches first in the United States, with additional markets planned later. Participating creators may receive visibility, event access, and career development opportunities. The Disney TikTok creator program will introduce curated fan-created videos to Disney+, giving eligible TikTok creators access to approved content from Disney-owned franchises while expanding the company’s short-form video offerings. Disney announced the initiative alongside TikTok, confirming that selected creator videos will appear on both platforms through a U.S. pilot scheduled to begin in the coming months. The partnership represents a new content initiative that combines Disney’s entertainment brands with TikTok’s creator community. Eligible participants will be able to create videos using approved assets from Disney’s library, while Disney+ will feature selected content within its vertical video

Arizona State University Now Offers a Creator Degree Program

Arizona State University Now Offers a Creator Degree Program

Arizona State University has added a creator degree to its 2026–2027 catalog. The 120-credit Bachelor of Arts combines social media strategy, production, analytics, media law and ethics. The program gives students formal training for careers built around digital audiences and multimedia publishing. Key Takeaways Arizona State University approved the Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation in March 2026. The program requires 120 credits, including 45 upper-division credits. Courses cover video, podcasting, social media, audience analysis, media writing, ethics and law. Capstone options include video production, sports production and the Los Angeles Content Creation Studio. ASU lists Downtown Phoenix and ASU at Los Angeles as program locations. Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation formalizes creator-focused study. The program is housed within the Cronkite School. The ASU University Senate approved the proposal on March 30, 2026. The motion describes training in multimedia creation, social media strategy and integrated communication across livestreaming, podcasting, videography, writing, graphics and emerging formats. ASU describes the degree as preparation for roles in content strategy, digital influencing, brand development, social media management and audience engagement. Its structure also supports production and communication roles inside media companies, agencies, entertainment organizations and consumer brands. The scope follows

Creator Platforms Tighten AI-Generated Content Policies

Creator Platforms Tighten AI-Generated Content Policies

Major creator platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Substack, Pinterest, and Meta, have introduced or expanded measures addressing AI-generated content. The updates outline new labeling, detection, and enforcement practices that affect creators while aiming to reduce low-quality or misleading material across their services. Key Takeaways YouTube clarified enforcement of its long-standing policy on repetitive and inauthentic content. TikTok continues expanding AI labeling and testing detection systems for AI-generated spam. Substack introduced AI-use identification tools and creator disclosure options. Pinterest maintains AI labels and user controls for AI-generated recommendations. Meta continues labeling AI-generated content across its social platforms and advertising products. Platforms used by millions of creators are introducing new measures related to AI-generated content, with YouTube, TikTok, Substack, Pinterest, and Meta expanding or clarifying policies designed to identify, label, or limit low-quality material created with generative artificial intelligence. The changes affect creators who publish videos, newsletters, images, and social posts while outlining how AI-assisted content may be disclosed, reviewed, or recommended. Creator Platforms Expand AI-Generated Content Policies The latest platform updates focus on reducing repetitive, misleading, or low-quality material without prohibiting legitimate uses of generative AI. Companies continue to support creators who use AI tools for editing, production assistance, or creative workflows,

57% of Young Women Seek Health Advice From Influencers

57% of Young Women Seek Health Advice From Influencers

A Pew Research Center survey found that 57% of women ages 18–29 have sought health advice from influencers. The findings show how younger adults are using social media for health information and identify the topics that attract the highest levels of engagement. Key Takeaways Pew Research Center found 57% of women ages 18–29 seek health advice from influencers. Young women reported higher exposure to wellness-related content than young men across several health categories. Fitness was the only category where young men reported greater engagement than young women. Some respondents said they value influencers with shared experiences or discuss topics they are uncomfortable raising with healthcare providers. Approximately half of Americans under age 50 reported using influencers as a source of health information. Young adults are increasingly relying on creators for health information, according to the Pew survey health advice influencers findings released by Pew Research Center. The survey reported that 57% of women between the ages of 18 and 29 have sought health advice from influencers, making them the demographic most likely to use social media personalities as a source of health-related information. The findings provide new data on how younger adults access information about wellness, medical topics, nutrition, and

Alix Earle Leads TIME100 Creators 2026 Cover Announcement

Alix Earle Leads TIME100 Creators 2026 Cover Announcement

TIME released its 2026 TIME100 Creators list, featuring creator and entrepreneur Alix Earle on the cover while recognizing 100 influential digital voices across social media, podcasting, gaming, fashion and lifestyle. The announcement also confirmed the return of the TIME100 Creators event in New York City later this month. Key Takeaways TIME announced its 2026 TIME100 Creators list recognizing 100 digital creators. Alix Earle appears on the cover of the 2026 TIME100 Creators issue. The list includes creators from fashion, beauty, gaming, podcasting and lifestyle. TIME confirmed the second annual TIME100 Creators event will take place in New York City on July 30. Max Alexander is the youngest creator included in the 2026 list at age 10. The Alix Earle TIME100 Creators 2026 announcement introduced this year’s group of 100 digital creators selected by TIME for their influence across social media and online publishing. The release placed creator and entrepreneur Alix Earle on the cover of the magazine’s latest issue while presenting creators working across fashion, beauty, lifestyle, gaming, podcasting, entertainment and digital media. TIME also confirmed that the second annual TIME100 Creators event will be held in New York City on July 30. The annual list recognizes creators whose work

Hank Green Faces Backlash Over AI Use in YouTube Content

Hank Green Faces Backlash Over AI Use in YouTube Content

YouTube creator Hank Green has faced criticism after acknowledging that he used artificial intelligence as a research aid while producing content. Green said AI did not write the script at the center of the dispute, but the episode has drawn attention to how creators disclose AI use to audiences. Key Takeaways Hank Green acknowledged using ChatGPT to help research a recent video. Green said AI did not write the disputed line or the video’s script. Viewer criticism followed the use of the phrase “I appreciate the pushback” during an episode of Ask Hank Anything. Green later apologized for relying too heavily on AI as a research aid. The controversy has centered on the distinction between AI-assisted research and AI-generated creator content. Hank Green Faces Criticism Over AI-Assisted Research The controversy began after an episode of Green’s Ask Hank Anything series was posted on Complexly’s YouTube channel. During the video, Green used the phrase “I appreciate the pushback,” wording that viewers associated with responses commonly produced by artificial intelligence chatbots. Some viewers consequently questioned whether AI had been used to write the script. Green subsequently acknowledged that he had used ChatGPT while researching the script. He clarified that the use was

Influencers Expand Business Roles Through Startup Investments

Influencers Expand Business Roles Through Startup Investments

Influencers including Alix Earle, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Sofia Richie Grainge are taking financial stakes in consumer brands, according to a recent report. The deals give creators a role beyond paid promotion, with investments spanning wellness, beverages, beauty and other consumer businesses. Key Takeaways Alix Earle has invested in Gorgie, SipMargs, Poppi and Cymbiotika. Earle joined Cymbiotika as an investor alongside Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner. Sofia Richie Grainge invested in self-tanning brand Dolce Glow. Hannah Bronfman has backed more than 70 startups, including Kindbody, Topicals and Ceremonia. Influencer investments now include consumer brands, technology companies and creator platforms. Alix Earle Expands Her Brand Investment Portfolio Influencer investors include Alix Earle, who has built a portfolio of ownership stakes across beverage and wellness companies. Her investments include Gorgie, SipMargs, Poppi and Cymbiotika, according to a report published August 26. Earle joined Cymbiotika as an investor in August 2026. The San Diego-based supplement company said she would work with the brand while continuing to reach audiences across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Earle’s earlier investment in Poppi provides a notable example of an influencer holding equity before a major corporate transaction. PepsiCo acquired Poppi for $1.95 billion in May 2025 after

YouTube View Count Change Alters Creator Metrics

YouTube View Count Change Alters Creator Metrics

Beginning August 24, 2026, YouTube will count a public view as soon as a video starts playing, extending the system already used for Shorts to other formats. The change gives creators and brands a more consistent exposure metric while making retention and other engagement measures increasingly important for interpreting performance. Key Takeaways YouTube will begin using its updated public view-counting method on August 24, 2026. A public view will register from the moment a video begins playing. The approach extends the playback-start method already used for YouTube Shorts to other video formats. The change does not alter creator monetization or YouTube Partner Program eligibility. Creators and brands will need to distinguish raw view totals from metrics that show what audiences do after playback begins.   Starting August 24, a view will count from the moment playback begins. The change extends the method already used for Shorts across YouTube’s other video formats, creating a more consistent standard for public view totals. The YouTube view count change matters because creators, brands, advertisers, and audiences regularly use view totals as a quick measure of a video’s reach. Under the updated system, that number will more directly represent video starts rather than indicating how