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☆ TikTok is the No. 1 social-media app for Gen Z to shop on, but Facebook rules among millennials and boomers. Here are 4 key takeaways from a new survey on social shopping.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Almost 70% of US consumers have used a social-media platform to buy products, a new survey found. TikTok is the preferred platform for Gen Z to buy, while millennials and boomers still use Facebook. Here are 4 key takeaways from a survey of 1,000 Americans run by creator-management platform Grin. Over two thirds of Americans (68%) have bought products directly on social-media apps, and 26% buy products in-app more than once a week, a new survey from the creator-management platform Grin found. The majority were Gen Z and millennials, while about 30% were Gen Xers and boomers.

Persons: Grin, Xers, Instagram Organizations: YouTube, Business Locations: China, Southeast Asia

☆ Melon, a startup that had raised $1.5 million to build an AI 'brain twin' for users, is shutting down
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Melon, a startup that was building a "brain twin" using AI, plans to shut down on March 24. The company had raised $1.5 million, but founder Sanne Fouquet said it "faced challenges." Melon , a startup that was building a "brain twin" for users with AI, plans to shut down on March 24, Business Insider has learned. Users could make their lists public and allow others to follow them and discover the content they'd saved. Melon used AI and machine learning to resurface content that users had saved and help them write, brainstorm, and research based on the information the user had collected.

Persons: Sanne Fouquet, Melon Organizations: Consumer, Business

☆ An accountant who works with top YouTubers shares 3 money-management strategies for freelancers and influencers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As an accountant and business advisor for creators, his day-to-day life is made of numbers, spreadsheets, and "boring," "compliance-driven" tasks. Uwins began doing taxes for creators and influencers in the early 2010s, when making money online was still relatively new. In 2021, he cofounded Arcade Media, a talent-management company that works exclusively with the YouTube group the Sidemen. He's helped develop products with the YouTubers, like fried-chicken chain Sides, vodka brand XIX, and their most recent venture, a company making breakfast products called Best Breakfasts. Build a business structure as soon as you start making moneyCreators should have a registered business regardless of how much money they're making, Uwins said.

Persons: —, Sam Uwins, Uwins, Patricia Bright, He's, Sidemen, wean, it's, Uwin Organizations: Service, Business, Arcade Media, YouTube

☆ A founding partner of VC firm 776 explains why she's still optimistic about creator-economy startups as the hype cycle ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFor Katelin Holloway, the people who say creator startups are "dead" are missing the point of the creator economy entirely. "I'm not talking about the epic stars and the MrBeasts of the world," Holloway told Business Insider. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Holloway is a founding partner at Seven Seven Six, the early-stage VC firm started in 2020 by Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian. The end of the hype cycle around creator-economy startups is part of the intrinsic nature of venture capital — VC "loves hype cycles," said Holloway.

Persons: —, Holloway, Alexis Ohanian Organizations: Service, Business, Seven Seven Locations: —

CNN —Miami Beach may be breaking up with spring break, but spring break isn’t moving on just yet. Video Ad Feedback Miami Beach wants to break up with spring break 00:50 - Source: CNN“This isn’t working anymore,” a young actor says in a viral YouTube video announcing the “breaking up” campaign. So you become hopeful again.”‘We hope it’s an amicable separation’On a visit to Miami Beach on Tuesday, the Republican governor stood with Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner to announce the deployment of state troopers to enhance security. In 2022, the City of Miami Beach similarly imposed a midnight curfew after two spring break shootings left five people injured on Ocean Drive. The area seemed tame, she said, compared to previous “crazy” spring break stays in Fort Lauderdale, about 35 miles north.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, ”, David Wallack, ” Wallack, Miami Beach’s, Wallack, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, ” DeSantis, “, “ We’ve, ” Meiner, Wayne Jones, ” Jones, Jones, Black Floridians, weren’t, Katie Ryan, Marta Lavandier, ’ ” Ryan, Avery Caimes, marveled, Mark Evenson, it’s Organizations: CNN, Miami, Florida Gov, Sunshine State, Miami Beach, Republican, Miami Beach Mayor, Miami City Commission, Miami Beach Police Department, Miami Beach police, Black Locations: Florida, Miami Beach, Miami, South Beach, Panama City, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, City of Miami Beach, South Florida, City, Biscayne Bay, Connecticut, Minnesota

☆ 4 Slack communities helping creators of color and women land paid deals and discuss obstacles they face building businesses
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For creators and influencers, working online means it's not always easy to build community. TikTok creator Morgan Gadley started the Slack workspace OohhMG in early January because she wanted other BIPOC creators to have access to the brand deal opportunities that were constantly flooding her inbox. Here are four Slack workspaces helping women and creators of diverse backgrounds build their brands, as well as three other groups for influencers. After that, she started introducing creators of color with smaller followings into the group. Other Slack groups for influencersHere are three other Slack groups that influencers told BI have helped them make industry connections or land deals:

Persons: Slack, TikTok, Morgan Gadley, Jessy Grossman's, —, I've, Florence Howard, Shaakira Molisho, they've, Gadley, Grossman, she's, Calveiro, Ogilvy, Naimeesha Murthy, influencers Organizations: Business, Walmart, LinkedIn, Products, Women Locations: New York, India

☆ Long-form video on TikTok is surging for media publishers, a new report found. Here are the key takeaways.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Long-form video is making a comeback on social media. As early as August 2023, creators told Business Insider they were earning tens of thousands of dollars per month from it. The data also said viewership of longer videos had increased nearly 40% over the previous six months. The report defines media and entertainment creators as accounts that are not brands, influencers, or aggregators of content. Tubular LabsYouTube has long been a go-to social platform for media publishers due to its landscape format and easy adaptability from TV.

Persons: It's, TikTok, ReesaTeesa, John Cassillo Organizations: Labs, Business, Beta

When it comes to newer consumer-social startups, the environment they're entering is turbulent — investor checks have dwindled, users are facing subscription burnout, and successful advertising models require massive scale. AdvertisementSo how are the emerging, buzzy social startups approaching monetization in 2024? "There's really only two monetization business models for consumer products," said Tiffany "TZ" Zhong, founder of new social platform NoSpace and early-stage VC firm Pineapple Capital. 3 ways new social-networking startups are approaching monetizationWhile some newer social startups are already monetizing their product, many are still pre-revenue and experimenting with different models to see which will make sense for their product and audience. And Verse CEO Bobby Pinckney told BI that the social platform, centered around music, plans to add a premium subscription that will unlock advanced AI tools, analytics, and templates.

Persons: —, there's, Eric Wittman, Tiffany, Zhong, VCs, Bianca Ambrosini, Ambrosini, Marlon Nichols, Nichols, Emma Bates, Andrew Kahn, Danial Hashemi, Alexandra Debow, Bobby Pinckney Organizations: Service, Meta, Business, Pineapple, Mac Venture Capital, Twitter, Crush Ventures, Crush, BI Locations: Berlin

☆ OnlyFans creators make money selling intimacy to their subscribers. But in a lonely and hostile world, the relationships can start to feel real.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

OnlyFans creators who spoke with BI said that losing friends and even family members was something adult-content creators often had to come to terms with. AdvertisementEven beyond adult content, creators face an intrinsic element of loneliness. Like other influencers and freelancers, OnlyFans creators often shoot, edit, and post their content alone at home. AdvertisementLike with other types of sex work, navigating OnlyFans can be difficult in a traditional monogamous relationship. Courtesy of LiensueThe money is what makes OnlyFans 'just so worth it'Many creators said money was the key factor that kept them on OnlyFans despite the stigma.

Persons: —, Rae Richmond, she'd, Richmond, Pani Farvid, Keily Blair, Kaitlyn Siragusa, You'd, she's, Elaina St James, I've, St James, Isla Moon, Cherie DeVille, Elaina, James, Amber, doesn't, Farvid, Sweetheart, Marie Lippmann, Liensue, I'm, Emme Witt, OnlyFans, That's, Witt, Siragusa Organizations: Service, The New School, Workers, BI, OnlyFans, California State University, Chico Locations: Richmond, New York, OnlyFans

☆ Why 7 prominent VCs are investing millions in new social startups like Diem, Lex, and 222
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Mervana Parekh is a principal at Acrew and has invested in social startups like Diem, Afterparty, and Anything World. Best Nights VC. Nichols is a founding managing partner at MaC, which recently invested in social startups like Spill and Swsh. Boyce has backed a slew of new social startups, including Diem, Lex, Koodos Labs, and Swsh, alongside associate Rhian Horton. In 2024, Best Nights is looking to invest in companies that facilitate travel experiences after hearing people say their best nights have happened during trips or vacations, said de Silva.

Persons: —, Connie Chan, Mervana Parekh, Peter Boyce II, Marlon Nichols, Catalyst, Web3, Peter, Diem, Afterparty, Lorrain de Silva, Andrew Kahn, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Kahn, Aaron Matusow, Dan Kruchkow, Nichols, Elizabeth Weil, Kevin Weil, John Smothers, Boyce, Lex, Rhian Horton, Lorrain, Silva, BestNights, Aaron Leithäuser, Gen Z, Peter Boyce, de Silva, Acrew Organizations: Service, Business, Acrew, Stellation, MaC Venture, VCs, Stanford University, Startup, Pudgy Penguins, Crush Ventures, VC, Crush, MaC Venture Capital, MaC, Catalyst, Koodos Labs, Big Tech Locations: 1kx, San Francisco , New York, Lisbon, Acrew, San Francisco, Berlin, Los Angeles and New York, Los Angeles, New York, Rythm

☆ How 'YouTube's resident librarian' built his business around book content, from hosting an award ceremony to a brand deal with Valentino
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. As the self-proclaimed "resident librarian" of YouTube, Edwards has amassed 1.3 million subscribers on his main channel and almost half a million on a second one with videos discussing books and reading. But while he's recently built a reputation as a BookTuber, Edwards didn't start his YouTube career with book videos. Between 2015 and 2020, he was more of a college YouTuber, publishing content about university life and studying tips. "The content people were generally making on BookTube was 'Books I want to read in April,' and then 'Books I read in April.'

Persons: —, Booker, Jack Edwards, Edwards, Edwards didn't, BookTok, BookTube, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, that's, he's, I've, Valentino, It's, AdSense, — Edwards, I'm, David Nicholls, livestream, Kate Green, Universal Pictures It's, Edwards hasn't, — he's, There's, it'll Organizations: Service, BBC's, YouTube, Business, Netflix, Universal Pictures Locations: London

☆ I'm a man who created a sexy female AI influencer to make extra money. It's been harder and weirder than I thought.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A man created a female AI influencer in order to make money after losing his job. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with the male creator behind AI influencer Kimochii. I thought an AI influencer would be the easiest and quickest way. Kimochii is an AI influencer with 43,000 Instagram followers. Even though I'm not making that much money with Kimochii, I'm too invested in her life now.

Persons: influencer, Kimochii, hasn't, haven't, she's, —, I'm

"I'm thinking about marketing myself as a TikTok Shop creator," Jayy told BI in July. Outside its in-house team, TikTok also deputizes official third-party TikTok Shop agency partners to work with creators and merchants on e-commerce strategies. And the company offers advice to all affiliate creators on its website via its TikTok Shop Academy. Someone who is not popular or famous going on TikTok Shop and offering products, or someone who is very popular and famous now getting products?" "I think the shortest path to more volume through TikTok Shop is really that second group."

Persons: D'Amelio, TikTok, Remy Beaumont, it's, Joy Mangano, Beaumont, playbook, Rick Watson, Sharon Jayy, Jayy, Watson Organizations: Business, Shop, Z Media, intel, Training, RMW Commerce Consulting, TikTok Shop, Shop Academy Locations: London, China, Douyin, TikTok's Culver

☆ Fanvue, an OnlyFans competitor, is betting big on AI-generated adult content. But some creators worry about its tactics.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

These influencers, generated using AI, have amassed thousands, or sometimes hundreds of thousands of followers — like Sika Moon and Aitana. Unlike its competitors, which largely ban adult content generated with AI, Fanvue is bullish on it and is investing heavily in its community of AI influencers. But as Fanvue continues to build its user base and business model on AI-generated explicit content, some of its practices have prompted concerns among creators. For many creators behind these AI influencers, however, the hiccups and doubts about Fanvue don't outweigh the attention the company is giving them, and they continue to nurture their relationship with it. "The way they treat us AI creators is good," a third creator said.

Persons: —, they've, Fanvue, Will Monange, Monange Organizations: Service, Business, BI

☆ Inside the rise of true-crime podcast empire MrBallen, from TikTok and Amazon to live events
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In the four years since he began creating content, MrBallen has become a fixture in the true-crime world and built an empire that spans video content, podcasts, live events, and a talent-management company. "I realized that I had first-mover advantage on TikTok," Allen told Business Insider. "This is a 50-50 partnership through and through, where he has his side of the business, and I have my side of the business," Witters said. "I'll never run out of content," Allen said. Now, Ballen Studios publishes four weekly podcasts, with more shows to be released this year, as well as weekly content across all social platforms.

Persons: Doja Cat, MrBallen, John Allen, Addison Rae, Allen, Nick Witters, Witters, John, Cadence13 Zak Levitt, Joe Rogan's, Nick, we've Organizations: YouTube, Business, Ballen Studios, Amazon Music, Spotify, Ballen

☆ I Love You, but I Hate Your Cooking
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Ella Quittner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Food and love go hand in hand. When Marta Hurgin first met Lisa Wolford, she loved Ms. Wolford’s sharp legal mind, her sense of humor and her empathy toward animals. And Ms. Hurgin even accepted that Ms. Wolford’s favorite food was chicken, though, as a vegetarian, she couldn’t quite understand it. And blissful it was — until Ms. Wolford began to volunteer for dinner duty. “It always had to be a really complicated recipe,” Ms. Hurgin, 37, said.

Persons: Marta Hurgin, Lisa Wolford, Hurgin, Wolford, Ms Locations: New Hampshire

SOLDEU, Andorra (AP) — Marta Bassino edged out Federica Brignone for an Italian one-two finish in a tight opening run of a women’s World Cup giant slalom Saturday. Mikaela Shiffrin sits out this weekend’s races to nurse a left knee injury and the American star could lose her lead in the overall World Cup standings to Lara Gut-Behrami. The Swiss skier won the previous GS and trails Shiffrin by 95 points. In Saturday's race, Bassino showed glimpses of her best as the Italian skier looked for her first podium result of the season. She won the World Cup title in the discipline in 2021 but has won just one World Cup race over the last three years.

Persons: — Marta Bassino, Bassino, Alice Robinson, Norway’s Thea Louise Stjernesund, Mikaela Shiffrin, Lara, Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova, Canada's Valerie Grenier, ” Organizations: Swiss, Cortina d’Ampezzo Locations: SOLDEU, Andorra, Italy, France

☆ Influencers are landing paid brand partnerships and UGC deals in an unexpected new way: Slack groups
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Marta Biino | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

That Slack group? While many of the other Slack groups creators said they'd used were free, this particular one charges membership fees of $41 per month or $588 a year. Like the existing Slack group, this one will also charge users. AdvertisementCalveiro is excited about this because of the group's potential to create a safe, engaged community where all questions are welcomed. "I haven't yet seen a truly successful Slack channel just for creators, and I think it's so needed," she said.

Persons: —, Ogilvy, Slack, I've, Kristen Bousquet, Bousquet, she's, Patricia Redulla, Redulla, She's, Calveiro, they'd, Jessy Grossman Organizations: Service, Influencer, Business, Messaging, workspaces, UGC, Adolescent

☆ Why influencer-marketing firm Izea is betting big on AI campaigns with a new image-generation tool
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIf you can't beat them, join them — that's the mantra that influencer-marketing firm Izea has adopted when it comes to AI. AdvertisementAs a first step in bringing its own AI framework to reality, Izea recently launched AI "Mixers" as part of its AI offering (which it calls "FormAI"). The concept behind "Mixers" is to offer creators and brands the ability to train their own AI models. Influencers will create digital representations of themselves, while marketers can train AI models of their products. Around the same time, another survey found that over half of creators had been asked to use AI by brands.

Persons: —, Izea, Ted Murphy, Murphy, I'm Organizations: Service, Business, Dollar

☆ How the creators of AI influencers are making money and building their audiences, from private groups on Discord to adult content
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Marta Biino | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Aika's creator, for instance, founded an AI community on Discord, "Generative Dreamers," which counts over 100 popular AI content creators. "Currently this is the only viable way to make money from AI images," the creator of Iskira said of adult content. The server members said the mutual support they'd found had been pivotal in continuing to pursue AI content. And while monetization has been off to a slow start, AI creators said they're here to stay — and several of them hope to eventually move away from adult content. "I think 2023 was a big year for people to wrap their heads around what is AI," said the creator of AI influencer Zoe Fox.

Persons: doesn't, She's, Alexis Ivyedge, Kim Ochii, we'll, Aika, there's, influencers, they're, Iskira, it's, they'd, Kim Ochii's, monetization, Zoe Fox Organizations: Business Locations: Instagram

☆ 13 innovative AI tools that are changing content creators' work processes, from ideation to production to editing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Marta Biino | Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Following ChatGPT's launch in late 2022, several new AI tools have emerged for creators to use. Many tools use generative AI to create more dynamic images, transcribe text, and edit videos. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Since then, hundreds of AI tools have popped up, helping with anything from writing cover letters during job searches to translating text into different languages. "With the increasing number of AI startups, creators have numerous ways to speed up their processes and workflow.

Persons: —, ChatGPT, Nick Chen, Amber Venz, Chen, Lia Haberman, Lindsey Gamble Organizations: Service, UCLA

That's why the company adds suggested search terms above and below TikTok videos to encourage users to find and click on related posts they might enjoy. AdvertisementWhy does the TikTok search bar tend to amplify drama? The suggested search phrases on TikTok are determined algorithmically, not by a human, based on relevance and engagement factors, a spokesperson told Business Insider. The search results reflect what users are saying about the TikTok video. AdvertisementWhen inappropriate or unwanted search phrases slip through its content-moderation system, the company has a feature that lets users report a recommended search that violates its policies.

Persons: —, Christian Vierling, TikTok, who's, influencers, Joel Bervell, we're Organizations: Service, Business, Women's Health

☆ Brazil State Prosecutor Urges Vale, BHP to Settle Over Dam Disaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Marta NogueiraRIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Miners Vale, BHP and their joint venture, Samarco, should strike a deal to compensate for a deadly dam disaster in 2015 or risk paying a lot more in court, the Minas Gerais state prosecutor general told Reuters. Last week a federal judge ruled that the firms must pay up to 47.6 billion reais ($9.67 billion) in damages, in a decision still subject to appeal. "The total will be very high," he said, adding that the firms should strike a deal when talks resume in February, to avoid more costly litigation. Soares Junior is one of the many officials that would have to sign off on a deal that could settle lawsuits on state and federal levels involving the disaster. ($1 = 4.9437 reais)(Reporting by Marta Nogueira, writing by Fabio Teixeira; editing by Sandra Maler)

Persons: Marta Nogueira, General Jarbas Soares Junior, Soares Junior, Samarco, Vale, Fabio Teixeira, Sandra Maler Organizations: Marta Nogueira RIO DE, Reuters, Vale, BHP Locations: Marta Nogueira RIO DE JANEIRO, Minas Gerais, Mariana

It wasn't just because TikTok users love to gossip — the platform suggested names of popular models as related searches at the bottom of Paré's video. When Business Insider viewed the video, TikTok suggested searching for "devon windsor suitcase" and "Taylor Hill" in different search bars. As TikTok looks to boost search activity , the company is automatically generating suggested queries in the search bars on videos. AdvertisementSince user comments help feed recommended searches, trolls flooding a creator's comments section with rude phrases or false claims can impact what the app recommends their followers view next. AdvertisementLike Bervell, several other TikTokers expressed frustration at their lack of control over the recommended searches, which can end up being "gossipy," he said, or completely unrelated to their content.

Persons: —, TikTok influencer Taylor Paré, Devin Windsor, TikTok, Taylor, Paré, Julia McNamee, she's, Katarina Terentieva, influencers, Joel Bervell, Bervell, we're, Jahleane, It's, it's, Brett Dashevsky, Dashevsky Organizations: Service, Business, Industry, Group, Adobe Express, Google, BI, Economy, YouTube Locations: New York

☆ Boomers are not moving out of their big homes. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Many Boomers whose homes have surged in value now face massive capital gains tax bills when they sell. Plus, smaller homes or apartments in the neighborhoods they’ve come to love are rare. Taxes on capital gains drain profits from a saleFederal and possibly state capital gains taxes can be significant for long-time homeowners who have seen their property values soar over several decades. They paid the capital gains and moved because their home was isolated and they wanted to be closer to conveniences, health care and other people as they aged. Few smaller homes in areas they’ve long livedMany neighborhoods where older homeowners have long lived are zoned for single-family homes and have few smaller homes or multi-family properties like condos or rental buildings.

Persons: Baby Boomers Marta, Octavian Dragos, ”, Dragos, ” Dragos, —, they’ve, “, Peter Poulsen, Poulsen, Jimmy Panetta Organizations: DC CNN, Savings Locations: Washington, El Cerrito , California, California, Livermore , California

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