News

• Have you heard? Addison Rae has a Fortnite skin and Erling Haaland has a secret weapon.
• With “the largest raise in live shopping,” Whatnot achieves $20 billion valuation

  Whatnot has raised what it calls "the largest raise in live shopping": A $545 million Series G funding round.

  
• Netflix knows how big trailers can be, so it got an exclusive window for a ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ preview

  Netflix is moving into the world of trailers (and gaming) by getting an exclusive window for a 'Grand Theft Auto VI' preview.

  
• So, theoretically, how much does it cost to buy fake views, followers, comments, likes, and shares right now?

  The most affordable fake? Views, which average $1.40 per 1,000 on TikTok up to $6.70 per 1,000 on YouTube.

  
• For vertical live streamers, YouTube is stressing that practice makes perfect
• Is there a right way to moderate children’s screen time? One approach may rise above the rest.
• Led by U.S. sales, TikTok Shop is on track to hit $100 billion of gross merchandise value in 2026
• YouTube’s new video ideation tool has two “massive” features for creators
• Mondo Metrics says its new trend tracker is “what CrowdTangle would have become”–and it’s launching with major sports leagues
• While much of YouTube keeps it short, sports creators are going long
• Reddit posts go viral on other platforms. Can that traffic be brought in-house?
• The force is with TikTokers as they get the usage rights to Disney characters
• Spotify says podcasts are having a “favorable” impact on its revenue, and that it’ll spend $230 million more on marketing and AI this year
• Speed zooms into Zumiez with some Killer Merch
• Connectivity issues can hamper IRL streams. Streamlabs has a solution.
• ‘PUBG’ offers $95,000 in prizes as it drops into the creator sandbox world led by Roblox and Fortnite
• Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: A case study in bonuses
• YouTube nukes ASMR channels, accusing them of posting “sexually gratifying” videos and linking out to content on other platforms that violates YouTube’s TOS
• Are YouTube viewers treating long-form videos like Shorts?
• Top 50 Most Subscribed YouTube Channels Worldwide • Week Of 08/02/2026
• Top 50 Most Viewed YouTube Channels Worldwide • Week Of 08/02/2026
• Chronicle shows creators and IP owners who their audiences are and how to find more viewers–before their projects go live online
• Snapchat won’t let creators monetize fully AI-generated videos, but it still wants you to please, please, please use its AI tools
• Have you heard? “No influencers” in Nantucket, Prime becomes Slime, and a Steve Jobs PSA 10.