I. Platform Economics Breakdown
- YouTube’s 55/45 revenue split vs. TikTok’s 0.02−0.02−0.04 per 1,000 views (TubeFilter 2023 data)
- Twitch’s controversial 50/50 split prompting top streamers like Ninja to demand renegotiations
- Emerging models: Snapchat’s $1M/month “Spotlight Challenges” rewarding viral AR filters
II. The Industrialization of Influence
A. Talent Agencies 2.0
- UTA’s $200M acquisition of Jellysmack for AI-powered content repurposing
- Viral Nation’s “Creator ETFs” – investors profit from 500+ influencer portfolios
B. Micro-Celebrity Factories
- South Korea’s HYBE (BTS management) launching Weverse Academy to mass-train idols
- Saudi Arabia’s $1B NEOM project creating “influencer cities” with tax incentives
III. Mental Health Epidemic
- Cambridge University study: 58% of full-time creators meet clinical anxiety criteria
- Platform responses: Instagram’s “Take a Break” feature reduced late-night usage by 31%
- Unionization efforts: SAG-AFTRA now represents 4,000 digital creators in pay disputes
IV. Legal Minefields
- FTC’s $2.4M fine against CSGO Lotto influencers for undisclosed gambling sponsorships
- India’s 2023 IT Rules mandating government approval for political content
- Copyright battles: Universal Music suing AI startups for training models on singer voices
V. Web3’s Unfulfilled Promises
- NFT failures: Logan Paul’s CryptoZoo project losing 93% value amid scam allegations
- Successful cases: Pudgy Penguins’ $9M toy deal leveraging IP from NFT holders
