YouTube, Instagram, SoundCloud, and other online platforms are changing the way people create and consume media. The Verge’s Creators section covers the people using these platforms, what they’re making, and how those platforms are changing (for better and worse) in response to the vloggers, influencers, podcasters, photographers, musicians, educators, designers, and more who are using them.
The Verge’s Creators section also looks at the way creators are able to turn their projects into careers — from Patreons and merch sales, to ads and Kickstarters — and the ways they’re forced to adapt to changing circumstances as platforms crack down on bad actors and respond to pressure from users and advertisers. New platforms are constantly emerging, and existing ones are ever-changing — what creators have to do to succeed is always going to look different from one year to the next.
US-based car reviewers are going gaga over Chinese EVs. Their audiences wonder why they can’t buy them.
After months of fighting about whether AI has a place in music, major labels have settled lawsuits and struck deals with startups.
Fans ofAdobe’s experimental camera app can finally use it with the front camera on the latest iPhones. Project Indigo was slow to support the iPhone Air and 17 series, at least partly due toproblems with the new selfie camera those devices employ. Adobe finallyrolled out support for those phones in late October with the selfie camera disabled. Now, selfies are back on the menu withan update that arrived yesterday.
Boing Boing plunged the depths of Etsy to find this3D-printed replica of the Chernobyl power plant, complete with a ruined reactor that lights up and spews “smoke” when you use it as a diffuser or humidifier.
If that’s too morbid for you, how about anOceangate Titan sub bathtub bubbler?
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Honestly, that’s insulting.
Nearly a year ago, I wrote that impending tariff policies seemedpoised to turn American consumerism upside down. In the months since, many people have said thatDonald Trump’s tariffs — andthe higher costs passed on to shoppers — could force people to buy less stuff they didn’t need in the first place. But as theWall Street Journalreports, even sky high tariffs might not be enough to break the habit for good.
Lawmakers who passed the bill that should have banned TikTok by now are staying quiet about how it’s played out.
Now, creators can use an upgraded AI-powered website-building tool to construct their Beehiiv site, sell digital products without commission, embed podcasts into their site, as well as access website analytics. You can view all the updates to the platform in the video below.
TikTok is partnering with iHeartMedia to launch a podcast network featuring up to 25 shows hosted by TikTok creators. Additionally, a new TikTok Radio station will pair TikTokers with iHeartRadio hosts, broadcasting shows nationwide “where listeners will feel like they are scrolling on TikTok, but with their ears.”
The convoluted saga of Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively, andIt Ends With Us is still raging on social media, thanks to influencers.
Coca-Cola’s new AI Christmas ad looks pretty terrible, quite frankly. But what if that was the point?
Aram:
You’ve gotta admit, they made a pretty great ad for Pepsi.
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The outlet will move under Vogue.com, and editor-in-chief Versha Sharma will depart the company.Teen Voguehas carved out a niche in recent years as a youth-focused news outlet with a progressive/leftist perspective. It’s not clear whether the outlet will keep that identity, but leadership saysTeen Voguewill focus on “career development, cultural leadership and other issues that matter most to young people.”
Update:Teen Vogue appears to also be doing layoffs,according to former staffers.
While no cause of death has been announced yet, Naroditsky’s passing is being investigated as a possible suicide. Many have pointed their fingers at disgraced former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who has waged anonline bullying campaign against Naroditsky.Defector has a detailed report of Kramnik’s behavior and its effect on Naroditsky:
If you were paying closer attention over the past year, you may have noticed an increasingly haggard Naroditsky, as he was contending with what seemed like extremely spurious cheating allegations leveled at him by Vladimir Kramnik, former world champion and Naroditsky’s boyhood idol. —Defector
The survey offers a fascinating look at the modern landscape ofnews creators and influencers. It offers a taxonomy of news creators, breaking them down into four types of content: commentary, news/investigation, explanation, and specialism. Unsurprisingly, it also found that younger generations have shifted away from traditional media, towards creators and personalities, and that partisan content often outflanks more balanced approaches.
61-year-old Larry Bushart is out of jail after a month for posting a meme on Facebook. In the wake of Kirk’s killing, ordinary people weredoxed, harassed, and even jailed for comments made online about the right wing influencer. According to theWashington Post, Bushart is now celebrating his freedom and building his legal case — and is back to posting.
The same day we hadCory Doctorow onDecoder to talk enshittification, the tech industry delivered a real-life example. New Affinity owner Canva islaunching an all-in-one editing app, and best of all, it’s free! Why do we get a bad feeling about this?
t1har:
2026: Affinity Pro for only $10/month!
The enshittification is coming. Mark my words.
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Correction: It is Cory Doctorow, not Doctor.
This amusing “ad” ribbing Adobe’swidely detested subscription model is a good reminder thatThe Onion offers physical printed newspapers again, and that good satire is worth supporting.
The platform is testing a way for users to indicate what topics they want to see in content, beginning with Reels. Instagram said previously thatthis was in the works. The topics appear to be extremely specific — things like Bad Bunny, “Japanese artisan menswear,” “vintage Patek,” and so on. In other words: help Instagram improve its algorithm.
The social media giants have agreed toboot users under 16 from their platforms by the December 10th deadline, but are still voicing skepticism about the policy’s enforcement and effectiveness.
Correction: YouTube has also said it disagrees with the law, but has not said it will comply.
Reuters: Their comments represented a shift in the social media industry’s response to the law, which is being watched by lawmakers around the world as concern grows about youth mental health. Under the Australian law, platforms must take “reasonable steps” to block users aged less than 16 or face a fine of up to A$49.5 million ($32.5 million).
Doinglive demonstrations of developmental AI features is always a risk, and the hiccups can be pretty funny. The host who showcased howAdobe Express’s new AI assistant can edit designs during today’s Max keynote was certainly amused (and surprised) that it turned a photograph into a cartoon — a change she hadn’t asked for.
YouTubers will be soon be able to make use of Adobe Premiere editing tools through a new hub, Create for YouTube shorts. It’s launching soon, both inside thenew Premiere mobile app and built directly into YouTube itself.
Expect “exclusive effects, transitions, templates and more.”
After being acquired by the board game crowdfunding platform Gamefoundearlier this year, Indiegogo isgetting a redesign andswitching over to Gamefound’s infrastructure.
