How the Creator Economy Destroyed the Internet
SMRTR summary
The creator economy has become the dominant force shaping today's internet and media landscape, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube generating billions while paying creators almost nothing. This forces creators into an endless cycle of chasing viral content for sponsorships, making it more profitable to sell physical products than create content—MrBeast's YouTube operation lost $110 million in 2024 while his chocolate bars drive real profits. This creates an unsustainable media ecosystem built on outrage and exploitation that now dominates culture and politics.
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