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• Nat Geo’s “creator cohort” is its next step forward on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
• YouTube partners with Rakuten to bring more shoppable videos to Japan

  Google and Rakuten Ichiba are using the YouTube Shopping affiliate program to bring more ecommerce to Japanese consumers.

  
• Audio agency Oxford Road is giving independent podcasters their own award show at SXSW

  At SXSW 2026 in Austin, the Independent Podcast and Creator Awards will honor indie showrunners who are making their voices heard.

  
• Roblox, TikTok Shop, Whatnot all see a rise in Gen Z spending. Which will come out on top?

  
• Gen Z job seekers are learning professional skills on social media. Are their sources credible?
• A new platform “by creators, for creators” will root out AI deepfakes
• Snapchat is handing out “Snappy Awards” to some of its top-performing creators
• Dropout and its comedians are starring in an episode of ABC’s ‘The Rookie’
• Kalshi has accused a MrBeast editor of insider trading. Will he go down as a cautionary tale?
• A study of 406 TikTok users found that 97% of them have followed a recipe they found on the app
• YouTube increases the value of its Premium Lite tier through Background Play and Downloads
• Microdrama apps are getting more engagement than streaming services