Link-o-Rama: YouTube surpasses Netflix for Gen Z attention

In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be launching a new creator survey all about standards, ethics, transparency and the things that go into building trustworthy media. This story from Wired, all about some v. shady funding, is a reminder that although independent creator journalism is exciting and upending some norms that need upending, there are some areas that may benefit from greater scrutiny, transparency and some standardization.

TL;DR: A federal indictment claims a network of well-trafficked (per Wired) right-wing influencers accepted money from RT, the Russian state-backed news network, to essentially amplify Kremlin-approved talking points to U.S. audiences. For a longer read, check out Taylor Lorenz’s expanded look at this story.

What are other ways in which indie creator news might benefit from some shared standards? If you have a strong opinion or an approach you’re already using, drop me a note at [email protected] or leave a comment here. Your input could help build the right survey.

In other news: 

• Medo Halimy, the 19-year-old Palestinian who documented life in Gaza on TikTok, was killed Monday in an Israeli airstrike, per a friend and collaborator. Halimy’s videos about life under siege reached audiences across the globe. The Israeli military said it was not aware of the strike that killed Halimy. [AP]

•  YouTube has overtaken Netflix to become the most revered company among kids between the ages of seven and 14. “YouTube is seen as the platform where kids find experts and learn from them or find help with their homework,” said study director Helenor Gilmour. Knowing several Alphas personally, I can safely say they are finding plenty of non-homework related content to enjoy, too. [TubeFilter]

• We’ve seen this take before: Only a minuscule percentage of creators will make it to (Mr.) Beast mode, aka the kinds of followings that lead to significant ad deals and membership fees. Turns out nano-influencers (those with fewer than 10,000 followers) may actually yield a better return for advertisers. [Harvard Business Review]

• Paramount sold creator conference VidCon to a U.K. firm for a undisclosed sum. Why should you care, you ask? Because VidCon was originally founded by content creator OGs Hank and John Green, which was acquired by Viacom, a division of Paramount, in 2018. [The Wrap]

• Add the University of Texas at San Antonio to the list of schools now offering some kind of creator program. The new Digital Media Influencer degree will combine instruction in content creation with audience and business strategy. [Axios]

Reminder: I’ll be at ONA24 in Atlanta in a couple of weeks leading a booked up Saturday workshop about making the transition to creator journalism. If you’re around and want to find time to meet up outside the sessions, you can book time here via my Calendly thingy.