Good morning. All eyes are on the Vatican today as the conclave to elect a new pope begins. And things (read: internet trends) look different from the last conclave in 2013βyou can livestream the Sistine Chapel chimney, refresh Pope Crave's X account, or fill out your own Fantasy Pope League bracket. Good to know the internet can keep even a thousand-year-old ritual fresh.
β Hannah Doyle & Syd Cohen

Kai Cenat Opens Applications for Streamer University

Over 6 million attempted to visit the website of Kai Cenat's (right) creator school, Streamer University / Kai Cenat
In a Hogwarts-inspired promo video yesterday, Twitch streamer Kai Cenat announced Streamer Universityβan application-only, on-campus program for streamers and creators to learn from Cenat and other professors.
Headmaster Cenatβs CV:Β
In just four years on Twitch, Cenat became the most subscribed-to streamer in the platformβs history.Β
His goal for the Streamer U is to create an environment where βchaos is encouraged, and content is kingβ for over 150 creators.Β
βAt Streamer University, streamers of all backgrounds will have the opportunity to showcase their personalities as students, alongside both unrealized, upcoming, and well-established creators,β the website says.
Although details about the courses have yet to be revealed, the application for both students and professors is liveβwith over 20 questions including math and science trivia and a 45-second video submission.
Upon admission, students will receive free room and board on-campusβlocation TBAβand enroll in a variety of classes, from Business Management to Film and Acting to Music Production.
According to Cenatβs Instagram story, the website received 6.6 million visits within the first hour, crashing the site and application. Hundreds of creators are already campaigning for their admission on X, TikTok, andβof courseβlive on Twitch.

Creators Take on the Met Gala

Mandy Lee (left) shares her Met Gala fashion takes, Emily Kirkpatrick (center) hosts a three-hour livestream, and Dolly Meckler (right) dons a menswear and dandyism-inspired outfit while reporting outside the Met Gala /Β Mandy Lee,Β Emily Kirkpatrick,Β Dolly Meckler
This yearβs Met Gala featured a roster of creator guetsβAlex Consani wore Swarovski, Emma Chamberlain (in her fifth year as Vogueβs official correspondent) wore CourrΓ¨ges and Ebay, and Khaby Lame wore BOSS.
But far more creators made their mark on fashionβs biggest night from the sidelines. Hereβs how they covered the Met gala this year:
Lifestyle creators Alix Earle and Dolly Meckler contributed to Vogueβs app. Earle shared her favorite looks of the night from home, while Meckler interviewed guests and shared fan POVs live on the street.
Mandy Lee, aka OldLoserinBrooklyn, shared analysis of the outfits on her own Instagram and partnered with Threads to make videos about the galaβs theme.
Culture writer Emily Kirkpatrick hosted a three-hour livestream on her Substack, I Heart Mess, reacting to celebritiesβ Met Gala arrivals.
Zoom out: The Met Gala has long been an exclusive, secretive event, but creators are putting their own spin on itβand making it accessible to fans, even without a proverbial seat at the table.

Why This Animator Vanished from YouTube

Animation creator The AMaazing has spent nearly a decade balancing a career as a full-time doctor and YouTube creator /Β The AMaazing
Animation creator Dr. Maaz MD, known as The AMaazing, left YouTube two years ago shortly after he hit 1 million subscribers. He just revealed why he returned to the platform last summer.
Context:Β
Maaz has been working as a full-time doctor and YouTube creator for nearly a decade.Β
In 2023, he felt overwhelmed by medical exams and criticism from doctor peers about his YouTube channel, so he abruptly left the platform.
Now he has a new plan. After passing two major medical exams during his YouTube hiatus, Maaz now has time to refocus on his creator work. Heβs also relying more on brand deals, Patreon supporters, and channel members to fund video production, he said.Β
βIβm so incredibly lucky to have this online career and I want to continue to look at it as a passion project, just like I started,β Maaz said in a video.

β Community TabΒ

Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in Press Publish NYC, our one-day summit for the creator economy coming to Brooklyn in September.
Weβve been prepping hardβcurating speakers, locking down panel topics, and of course, researching the best coffee spots.
Want early access to speaker lineups, event programming, and tickets (going live soon π)? Join the list here.

π₯ Press Worthy
YouTube Premium tests a discounted two-person subscription plan in certain countries.
Google launches a film and TV production studio.
Spotify introduces a Plays metric that lets users see how many times a podcast is watched or listened to.
Linus Tech Tips splits its online store into two websites (US and non-US) in response to tariffs.
Internet-dependent jobs now make up 18% of total US GDP, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau.Β
Epic Gardening is launching a FAST channel on Samsung TV this July.
