Apple sues YouTuber for iOS 26 leaks

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🌀 Creator economy updates

• Bari Weiss’ media company Free Press is reportedly seeking a $200M valuation—powered by newsletters and subscriptions.

• Dave Jorgenson, the face of Washington Post’s TikTok, is leaving to launch a creator-first news studio and newsletter on Beehiiv.

• OpenAI’s next move? Shopping. They’re reportedly adding checkout to ChatGPT and will take a cut of purchases made inside the chatbot.

📉 Instagram engagement’s down bad

New data from Digiday’s 2025 Influencer Index shows IG engagement plummeting:

• Beauty influencers: down 73% YoY on sponsored likes

• Mid-tier creators: like/follower ratio fell from 6.8% → 2.6%

• Organic content? Still outperforms paid, but even that’s dipping

What’s still working:

• Comment-gated posts (“Comment ‘LINK’ for my skincare routine”) = 43x more comments. Some creators hit 19k+ on a single post.

• Seasonal strategy:

  • Q2 = Beauty (Ulta, Sephora sales)

  • Q3 = Fashion (lifestyle, travel)

  • Q4 = Sponsored content peak (shopping vlogs, holiday hauls)

Engagement isn’t dead—it’s just migrating. And the brands who know how to read the signals are still spending. Creators who plan for it win.

📺 YouTube isn’t a ‘farm league’ anymore

Back in March, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos called YouTube the minors. Said creators “front their own costs.” Cited MrBeast as a money-losing example.

Four months later? He changed his tune.

• Ms. Rachel: 53M views on Netflix

• The Sidemen: got a full series

• Pop the Balloon: inked a deal

• MrBeast: signed $100M with Amazon

YouTube is now the #1 TV platform in the US—bigger than Disney, more watch-time on CTVs than Netflix itself.

Why it matters:
Streamers aren’t funding ideas anymore. They’re buying results.
If you want a deal, your show needs to already exist—on YouTube.

What they care about:

• Watch time

• Completion rate

• Engagement

The good news? You don’t need Hollywood. You just need data.

🍏 Apple sues YouTuber for iOS 26 leaks

Tech creator Jon Prosser is being sued by Apple for allegedly leaking secrets tied to iOS 26.

Apple says he:

• Offered someone money or a job to access a dev iPhone

• Was shown unreleased features via video

• Posted it all through his channel Front Page Tech

Even though iOS 26 is now public, Apple’s suing for damages and trying to block future leaks. Prosser denies wrongdoing.

Why it matters:
This case could change how tech creators handle leaks, scoops, and sources. The line between “creator” and “press” just got messier—and riskier.

🏳️‍🌈 Marginalized creators feel the DEI pullback

Brands are quietly stepping back from DEI-led sponsorships—and creators are taking the hit.

• Pride, Black History, and Women’s History Month campaigns are shrinking

• Longtime partnerships are drying up

• DEI creators are losing deals without explanation

Why? Brands are scared. Backlash, politics, boycotts—you name it.

But: The ones who stick with these creators are winning on trust, authenticity, and community relevance. There’s still power in being niche—and loyal followers aren’t leaving.