TOGETHER WITH

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, Pop the Balloon or Find Love has become a dating app. After breaking out on YouTube, the romance series has expanded into a multiplatform franchise—and now, it’s helping fans find some love of their own.

CREATOR COMMOTION

Creators are celebrating YouTube milestones, getting arrested, and staging comebacks

The anniversary: Smosh arrived on YouTube 20 years ago this week. The iconic channel led by Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla has had more longevity than any other YouTube hub. To celebrate their partnership, Hecox and Padilla took part in a Smosh game show and a gala called the Smoscars. Here’s to 20 more years!

The comeback: SteveWillDoIt is coming down the YouTube chimney on Christmas Eve. Three years after his channel was banned for gambling-related transgressions, the Nelk member is planning a dramatic return to the platform. SteveWillDoIt says he has been “depressed” while his YouTube channel has been inactive, so hopefully giving away one million dollars can clear up that malaise.

The arrest: Jack Doherty was arrested in Miami. With eight-digit follower counts on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, Doherty is one of the biggest pranksters in the creator world. His recent arrest for possession is the latest bit of legal trouble for an internet-famous practical “joker”.

The signing: Wasserman has big plans for social media influencer Choyce Brown. The daughter of actor Tabitha Brown is one of several celebrity offspring to ink a deal with Wasserman. The agency will give its new charge lots of choyces (sorry) by opening doors for her across fields like acting, events, and branded content.

🌟 SPONSORED 🌟

Gushcloud’s Golden Visa and Creator Venture Program is skyrocketing creator growth in the UAE

Gushcloud International—a global creator management and licensing company powered by AI—is accelerating creator growth like never before.

In 2025 alone, Gushcloud’s Golden Visa and Creator Venture Program…

• Provided long-term residency and opportunities for creators in the UAE, offering stability, business setup, and brand growth.
  
  

• Drove engagement for new creators, brands, and partners through Creator HQ and other UAE-based initiatives
  
  

• Offered holistic support in creator and talent management, social growth, production, and monetization, including through the Gushcloud Global Creator Hub in Abu Dhabi
  
  

• Leveraged a $20M creator fund to help creators build brands, launch products, and scale

Through its partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Gushcloud has already helped numerous creators secure 10‑year renewable residency in the UAE.

Now, Gushcloud is doubling down on its commitment to shaping the future creator economy in the Middle East. 

Visit the website to find out how investors, creators, and brands can benefit from Gushcloud’s unprecedented Golden Visa and Creator Venture Program:

POP CULTURE MINUTE

MrBeast builds a city, Labubus get their own movie, and creator chess heats up

The competition show: MrBeast built a “massive” city for the second season of Beast Games. The creator’s Amazon original series will begin its second season on January 7 with the theme “Strong Vs Smart”. 200 contestants will compete for a grand prize of $5 million. Who will come out on top?

The Labubu movie: Of course there’s going to be a Labubu movie. Is anyone surprised that the buzzy toy referenced in millions of short-form videos is getting its own film franchise? The Labubu movie is either going to be the biggest thing since A Minecraft Movie or a completely unwatchable slog for parents. Or—dare we say it—both?

The chess challenge: Chess.com is increasing its Elo with Super PogChamps. Previous editions of the creator chess tourney were more notable for silly plays than high-level competition. This time, however, Chess.com is rolling out the big guns. Streamer Tyler1 will be a name to watch, as he’s been steadily increasing his ranking. Can he take down an actual, factual tournament chess player in the form of Andrea Botez?

THE BIZ

This week in the digital media biz…

The valuation: ByteDance just snagged a $480 billion valuation. A bidding war for a sizable chunk of ByteDance equity drove up the tech company’s price tag, making it one of the world’s most valuable startups. Keep that massive valuation in mind the next time the U.S. government tries to play hardball with TikTok’s deep-pocketed owner.

The AI pivot: Nvidia isn’t a gaming company anymore. Remember when the tech giant was best known for selling GPUs and other pieces of gaming hardware? Pepperidge Farm remembers, even if Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is now saying that his company’s immense AI chip sales have led it away from the gaming world.

The €1B contribution: YouTube added €1 billion to the French economy in 2024. The platform’s 2025 YouTube Festival was a celebratory affair, and the release of a France-specific economic impact report was one of the highlights. No wonder the nation’s traditional entertainment companies are so eager to work with creators.

The new hire: CAA’s latest hire will work at the intersection of journalism and the creator economy. Former CBS News producer Becky Van Dercook will help creators become reporters, and vice versa.

WATCH THIS 📺

A weird song about iJustine went viral on TikTok

The TikTok bop: Hyperpop artist KIRAAI has an untoward invitation (in song form) for one of the internet’s biggest tech reviewers—and memers in the short-form world are loving it.

We don’t think iJustine is going to fulfill the prophecy of the bop that bears her name, though. Maybe KIRAAI should ask Tana Mongeau instead.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen.