TOGETHER WITH

It’s Tuesday and as they deliberate on a possible TikTok ban, legislators like Senator Todd Young are facing the wrath of some “really tough bargainers”: their kids.

CHILLS & THRILLS 💀

MrBallen is condensing his show’s spookiest stories into a new graphic novel

The reveal: On Sunday, MrBallen made an announcement that’s sure to send shivers down any fan’s spine. The true crime king revealed via live stream that he plans to release a graphic novel based on some of the most chilling stories discussed on his YouTube channel and podcast.

The book: That upcoming publication, titled MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious, is set to hit shelves on October 1. The novel will include adaptations of stories familiar to MrBallen’s long-time followers—plus a few tales that the creator’s 17 million YouTube and TikTok fans haven’t heard yet.

• Those spooky stories will be illustrated by graphic novelist Robert Venditti and comic book artist Andrea Mutti. The book’s cover (pictured above) features the work of artist Rob Prior.
  
  

• Fans eager to secure their own copies of MrBallen Presents can preorder the book now. The hardcover (with or without a signed bookplate) currently goes for $24.99, while the paperback is priced at $19.99 and the ebook at $11.99.

The big picture: MrBallen isn’t the only digital star to make waves in the graphic novel biz. TikToker Tony Weaver Jr.’s The Dream Frontier is slated for publication with Macmillan‘s graphic novel imprint, First Second Books, in 2026, while Twitch streamer Ninja released his own fictionalized adventure—Ninja: The Most Dangerous Game—way back in 2019.

• Publications like those are becoming more common thanks to the rise of BookTok. TikTok parent company Bytedance began soliciting authors to release their books through its recently launched publishing house last summer, while a startup called Bindery seeks to bring creators directly into the publishing process.

🔆 SPONSORED 🔆

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HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• Dude Perfect has teamed up with Smoothie King to release a limited-time Dude Perfect Smoothie, which comes in collector cups tied to a $10,000 giveaway. (Tubefilter)
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• According to pocket.watch and Sunlight Entertainment, Ryan’s World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure will see release in over 2,100 U.S. movie theaters on August 16. (Tubefilter)
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• Instagram and Threads now include an opt-out setting that limits recommendations of political content by default. (The Verge)
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• Beginning in January 2025, a new Florida bill will ban children under the age of 14 from creating social media accounts. (Engadget)

DATA • GOSPEL STATS 📈

Top 3 Branded Videos: Killer trains, questionable fries, and styrofoam candy

MrBeast is back on top in the latest Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report. From the candy man’s Samsung sponsorship to Ryan Trahan’s partnership with Shopify, this week’s sponsored video rankings are all about high-powered creator/brand collabs.

🥇 MrBeast x Samsung: Stop This Train, Win a Lamborghini
Samsung announced last September that it had struck a deal to make Galaxy devices the official vlog cameras of MrBeast. Six months and several viral videos later, the duo has come together yet again to present a high-stakes battle between a shiny new sports car and an oncoming train.

🥈 Ryan Trahan x Shopify: I Tested 1-Star Drive Thrus
As fellow creator HopeScope noted in a recent video, Ryan Trahan has become “the one-star review king.” The latest iteration of Trahan’s signature format was a Shopify-sponsored journey through the worst-reviewed fast food joints in the U.S.A. The result: a probable stomach ache and 8 million views.

🥉 NileRed x Nebula: Turning styrofoam into cinnamon candy
Nebula has a knack for reaching its target audience. The creator-driven streaming service—which describes itself as the “home of smart, thoughtful videos”—tapped into YouTube’s extensive educational community by sponsoring NileRed’s latest scientific experiment.

FYI: This list is just a sneak peek at everything Gospel Stats has to offer. Check out the full site here for in-depth data on branded partnerships, rising YouTube channels, and more.

WATCH THIS 📺

Technology has come a long way since the heyday of pagers

The challenge: For one week, YouTuber Kurtis Conner tackled a challenge that would be unthinkable to many modern viewers: he relied fully on outdated tech.

• The creator’s chosen gadgets wouldn’t exactly fit into most vintage-inspired Pinterest boards. Instead of retro record players and typewriters, the creator opted for informercial-style items like wrist cameras, handheld voice recorders, and wearable computers.
  

• Fans can check out Conner’s adventure through time here.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen. Drew Baldwin helped edit, too. It's a team effort.