It's Sunday and here’s a handpicked selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.
But first, Pope Leo XIV is warning priests to stay away from AI sermons. His Holiness has already come out as a generative AI skeptic. Now, he’s reminding clergy that the only GPT they should be employing is God’s Personal Teachings.
CREATOR COMMOTION
Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs has a new collab. (Photo credit: Ora DiLeonardo)
Creators are directing films, sparking rumors, and securing collabs
The collab: Mark Rober’s CrunchLabs has a new brand collab in the works. Rober will employ his signature storytelling style as he demystifies the science behind Rivian’s line of electric vehicles.
The family feud: Charli D’Amelio and her family don’t seem to be getting along. After some keen observers noticed that Charli had unfollowed her parents and sister on social media, a new report is delving into the (alleged) divide separating the members of the TikTok-famous clan.
The honorary Sidemen: Erling Haaland is joining the UK’s favorite creator group for a “Sidemen Sunday.” The Norwegian super striker is the latest footballing celebrity to collab with the Sidemen, and in a World Cup year, expect these team-ups to become more frequent.
The YouTube vet: Hank Green is finally getting offers from media companies that make “economic sense.” In a LinkedIn post, the YouTube veteran said that he has 20 years of experience saying “no” to potential partners. But all of a sudden, the offers Green is receiving are coming with some more favorable terms attached.
The director: It’s been three years since arthouse distributor A24 announced its plan to turn Kane Pixels’ dread-soaked YouTube series into a feature film. Now the first trailer for Backrooms is here, and it features exactly the mood you’d expect from an adaptation of a creepypasta.
PLATFORM HEADLINES
YouTube is experimenting with new Shorts tools. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Here’s what the world’s top platforms got up to last week:
The remix: YouTube is testing new features for its Shorts Remix format. An ongoing test lets users “reimagine” individual frames as brand-new Shorts, and they can add objects to their remixes as well. YouTube is going all in on the creative aspects of its TikTok-style format, but user buy-in will be required if these features are going to stick around.
The list: Who are the educators, foodies, icons, innovators, and originators defining the current state of creator content? If you want the answer to that question, check out the TikTok Discover List. You might just stumble upon some fun accounts you’ve never encountered before.
The shortcut: Threads is hyperlinking the phrase “DM me.” Meta’s answer to X is looking to distinguish itself from the competition with some unique features. This one is a useful shortcut. If you click on the magic words, Threads will automatically direct you to the relevant user’s inbox.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
A U.K. YouTuber is headed to Eurovision.
From the NewFronts to Eurovision, spring 2026 is heating up
The competition: The U.K. has chosen a “synth sorcerer” to represent it at the Eurovision Song Contest this May. Electronic musician Sam Bartle is the host of LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, a YouTube channel that features his 80s-inflected tracks. Now Bartle will take the stage for his home country at the upcoming 2026 Eurovision competition in Austria.
The conference: High school students will go “Beyond Now” with a one-day conference headlined by creators. On March 7, the Times Center in New York will play host to the Beyond Now conference, where a mix of creators, founders, and other leaders will forge connections with the next generation of leaders. TikTok star MDMOTIVATOR is one of the headliners.
The NewFronts: Here’s the agenda for the 2026 NewFronts. The Interactive Advertising Bureau has dropped the schedule of presentations for the upcoming iteration of its digital advertising pitchfest. Big names like Google, TikTok, and Snap are on the docket for the event series, which will kick off on March 23.
WATCH THIS 👀
Pygmy hippos get a lot of views online.
Moo Deng has some competition
The hippo hype: A new pygmy hippo has arrived. We just recovered from the cuteness overload triggered by the hype surrounding Moo Deng. Now, Jellybean has waddled her way into viewers’ hearts (including ours).
Meet the Wildlife World Zoo’s latest—and arguably most adorable—resident here.
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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen.