Good morning. AI-generated streamer Neuro-sama just beat out veteran gamer PirateSoftware for a new Twitch Hype Train world record—receiving over 84,000 new subs as viewers gathered to support the AI VTuber in rapid succession. Our question: Can any non-AI human streamers top Neuro-sama’s new record?
Platform Roundup: Major Moves at Meta, X, and TikTok
Meta pulls back their AI-generated Instagram profiles, including Liv of @himamaliv (left), while Elon Musk (right) tweaks X’s algorithm / Meta, Elon Musk
Here’s the platform news you need to know this week →
Meta is modifying AI-generated profiles across Facebook and Instagram following pushback from users. Breaking it down:
Connor Hayes, vice president of product for generative AI at Meta, told the Financial Times last month that Meta planned to double down on AI-generated users and content to engage the platform’s 3 billion users. He said Meta intended for AIs to exist on Meta “kind of in the same way that accounts do…they’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform.”
Those comments sparked negative attention from Meta users criticizing the platform’s AI profiles launched in 2023. An example: Some users suggested Meta’s existing chatbots like “black queer mama” Liv took on digital blackface.
A Meta rep told 404 Media that the platform deleted Liv and 14 more of the 28 total AI characters because they found a flaw that kept users from blocking the bots. Still, Meta plans to bring more AI-generated and AI-summarized content to users’ feeds—just not through its “characters.”
The US Department of Justice counters President-elect Donald Trump’s appeal to save TikTok. On Friday, the DOJ asked the Supreme Court to deny Trump’s request to delay the TikTok ban set for January 19, arguing that the ban doesn’t infringe on First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court plans to evaluate both arguments this Friday.
Elon Musk is changing the X algorithm to promote more “informational/entertaining” content.
Musk also said X will start allowing users to adjust their content feeds dynamically. Why now?
“Our goal is to maximize unregretted user-seconds,” Musk said. “Too much negativity is being pushed that technically grows user time, but not unregretted user time.”
Creator to Know: OMGAdrian Launches Daily Longform Series
Adrian Per of OMGAdrian starts a long-form daily vlog on YouTube / Adrian Per
Film and lifestyle creator Adrian Per, known as OMGAdrian, has built a following of over 900K across platforms making minute-long how-to videos ranging from color-grading tips to creative workflows.
Now, he’s investing in long-form with a new YouTube channel and daily vlog series.
Per’s short-form videos (which he uploaded daily for all of 2023) are typically scripted and shotlisted, but he says his YouTube videos will be “raw, uncut, and unfiltered.” Five days in, Per’s new channel is at 100K views. For context, Per’s last five videos on TikTok have gotten a total of about 33K views.
Zoom out: Making the jump to long-form isn’t easy—there’s more to edit, and the style requires different storytelling skills with titles and thumbnails. So far, the most common method has been through podcasts, like Brittany Broski’s Broski Report and Jake Shane’s Therapuss.
👀 Creator Moves
Lifestyle creator Jillz Guerin is hiring a creative operations manager to generate content ideas and assist with production.
Complexly is looking for a cooking show host with experience making food videos.
Nick DiGiovanni is hiring a newsletter editor to work on weekly emails and lifestyle content.
Looking to bring on new team members? You can post opportunities on our (free) job board here.
🔥 Press Worthy
Gaming creator Shroud hosts a charity subathon to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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Andrew Callaghan’s Channel 5 is releasing a movie about a radicalized political protestor reconciling with his family.
Tech creator Sara Dietschy makes a (very convincing) AI clone of herself.
Geography by Geoff launches a travel documentary channel.
Haley Pham releases a booksleeve and bookmark set.
Popeye, Singing In The Rain, and more popular media enter the public domain for free creator use.
