James Hale

• SystemZee had to change everything about how he makes content. Here’s how he saved his channel.
• On TikTok Live, viewers are buying enough virtual gifts to pay 60,000 creators a part-time salary (Exclusive)

  It happened during COVID: We all, for a long period of time, became more online. Digital content had already been growing, and plenty of people were familiar with the vast trove of videos on established platforms like YouTube and Twitch, as well as (at the time) nascent platforms like TikTok. But in a time where most folks were locked inside, a perfect fusion happened: More people than ever found themselves with the time to watch content--and make it.

  
• Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: Fortnite’s new dawn

  On Nov. 29, over 10 million players gathered live for Fortnite's Zero Hour, a massive multiuniverse event that concluded its long-running Chapter 6 (as well as a Simpsons mini-season) and brought our intrepid heroes to a new island, and thus a new map on which to slay one another over and over and over.

  
• Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: 7-Eleven for the holidays

  What's interesting is those videos are not right next to each other. Usually if MrBeast posts videos across any of his channels, they pop up at the very top of our list with the most views. This week, though, he's in spots #1 and #3, interrupted by Anna Twinsies at #2. This MomTuber has not one, but two sets of twins, and has amassed 10 million subscribers with her family life vlogs. This week's video is something a little different...We'll get into that more below.

  
• More AI: Will YouTube’s new promptable feed replace the recommendation algorithm?
• The Rockefeller Foundation partners with Beast Philanthropy, hoping to capture “the hearts and minds of millions of young people”
• No Thankmas 2025: Jacksepticeye says he’s noticed fans’ financial struggles, plus wants to restructure for 2026 event
• Slow Ventures invests $1.1 million in physiotherapist Instagrammer Tayla Cannon’s mentorship app
• What happens when America’s largest injury law firm goes “all in” on YouTube? Just ask Morgan & Morgan.
• Google wants to make lots of money off AI. Its CEO still says not to trust chatbots.
• After a string of child safety lawsuits, Roblox is age-checking everyone who wants to chat with other users
• Theorist’s staff wants to unionize with the WGA and Motion Picture Editors Guild. It declined to voluntarily recognize them.