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YouTube is testing blurred thumbnails for mature content

By
Gen Salinas
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YouTube blurred thumbnail
Image courtesy: YouTube

YouTube is quietly testing a feature that could impact how creators design their thumbnails, especially those that lean into sexually suggestive content.

The company confirmed that it’s running a small experiment where it automatically blurs thumbnails that may contain “mature or sexual content.” The test is limited to a small group of viewers and videos. However, it signals a shift in how YouTube continues to enforce its guidelines beyond demonetization.

The power of thumbnail designs

Thumbnail design is one of the few areas where creators can control how their content appears in feeds and search results. For years, some creators have used provocative thumbnails to grab attention and drive clicks, even when the video itself is more tame. It’s been a tactic across genres, from pranks to reaction videos.

Now, YouTube seems to be drawing a harder line. While the platform already restricts monetization and reach for videos flagged as adult or suggestive, this test shows they’re looking at visibility too.

What YouTube is actually doing

The blurred thumbnails do not affect video availability. The content stays up, and there’s no strike against the channel. However, the platform is testing whether obscuring thumbnails reduces the number of people who click on the video.

A spokesperson said that the test is designed to “limit sexually suggestive thumbnails that don’t break our policies but may not be appropriate for all audiences.” It’s not clear what visual elements are being flagged or how the system determines what’s considered mature.

What creators should do now

If you are using thumbnails with sexual imagery, now’s the time to reconsider. Even if your content has not been flagged or restricted, YouTube’s algorithm may still suppress your video if the thumbnail is blurred.

You do not need to guess what’s acceptable. YouTube already has community guidelines that cover this topic. And they have flagged “sexually provocative content used for shock value” as a risk in both thumbnails and titles.

A good rule of thumb: if your thumbnail would raise a red flag on a public billboard, YouTube’s machine learning might treat it the same way.

Instead of leaning into suggestive visuals, focus on high-contrast designs, strong expressions and context-driven imagery. These tend to perform well without crossing into content that risks suppression.

Image courtesy: YouTube

Meta updates content moderation to target spam in posts and comments

By
Gen Salinas
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A graphic from Meta
Image courtesy: Meta

Meta announced a new content moderation update on Facebook that aims to crack down on spam in comments. The change targets what Meta calls “irrelevant or excessive” comments, which is a growing problem many creators and brands have dealt with firsthand.

How the tool works

According to Meta, they’re rolling out new machine learning models that can better detect spam in multiple languages. They’re also expanding comment moderation features for Page admins. Users can now automatically hide comments that contain links or specific keywords.

For creators, this means you’ll have better tools to protect your audience and keep conversations real. If your Page pulls in a lot of spam comments, these changes could save you hours of manual moderation.

Meta says these new systems are already catching more spam before it even shows up publicly. They claim the tech now identifies “subtle” forms of spam that older systems missed. For example, scammers who slightly misspell words or use special characters to sneak past filters.

This isn’t Meta’s first try at fighting spam. However, by focusing on multilingual detection and improving admin controls, they’re giving creators more direct power to manage their spaces.

How creators can utilize the tool

You can customize the moderation settings to fit your community. Want to allow links from trusted users but block random ones? You can set those rules yourself now.

If you’re serious about building an audience on Facebook, it’s worth taking a few minutes to update your Page’s moderation settings. Meta’s new options let you be proactive instead of reactive.

Meta’s latest moderation change is a clear push to make Facebook a better place for real conversations. If you have built your audience through honest interactions and meaningful content, you are in a strong position.

YouTube’s Q1 2025 ad revenue hits $8.1 billion

By
Gen Salinas
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YouTube logo on smartphone

YouTube just closed out Q1 2025 with $8.1 billion in ad revenue, up 21% year over year. This marks its best growth rate since early 2022. This signals that advertisers are spending again and YouTube’s monetization tools are working.

During Alphabet’s earnings call, Sundar Pichai emphasized YouTube’s momentum across ads, Shorts and subscriptions.

Advertisers are spending more

Pichai called out Shorts as a “big driver of growth.” He said YouTube Shorts now sees over 70 billion daily views. That’s a sharp increase from the 50 billion daily views reported last year. Creators posting short-form content consistently now have access to a growing pool of engaged viewers and ad dollars.

Neal Mohan also pointed out that AI tools are helping advertisers run more effective campaigns on Shorts. These tools match brands with relevant content more efficiently, resulting in more ad revenue flowing to creators who make content that holds viewers’ attention in under 60 seconds.

YouTube Premium and Music keep gaining subscribers

Alphabet reported that YouTube’s subscription services, including YouTube Premium and YouTube Music, have topped 100 million subscribers. Mohan said this creates new monetization streams for creators, especially musicians and podcasters.

As Premium memberships grow, more of the views will come from ad-free users. Creators still earn from those views through YouTube’s revenue share model.

YouTube is still betting on connected TV

YouTube’s dominance on TV screens isn’t slowing down. Pichai said the platform remains the most-watched streaming service on U.S. connected TVs. That’s based on Nielsen data, which measures time spent watching.

This shift matters because ad rates on TV screens tend to be higher than mobile. If the content performs well on television, especially in longer videos, with high-quality production or educational content, creators may then see higher CPMs and better retention.

All factors taken into consideration, creators will have more opportunities to grow their revenue.

SAG-AFTRA expands creator influence with new committee led by Patrick Janelle

By
Gen Salinas
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SAG-AFTRA building
Image courtesy: SAG-AFTRA

Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is doubling down on support for content creators with the launch of its Creator & Influencer Committee, which aims to strengthen protections and resources for creators working in digital media. Patrick Janelle, a longtime lifestyle influencer and creative entrepreneur, has been named the inaugural chair.

What the committee will do

The new committee is focused on advocacy, education and policy shaping. While SAG-AFTRA has offered a membership path for influencers since 2021, many creators still don’t know what benefits the union provides or how to access them.

One of the committee’s goals is to build broader awareness of SAG-AFTRA’s influencer agreement. It also aims to provide clearer resources to help creators understand what union membership entails. Just as importantly, the committee plans to address the unique needs of creators who operate at the intersection of entrepreneurship and performance.

Janelle has firsthand experience with these challenges. He built his brand through Instagram, co-founded creative agency Untitled Secret, and has worked with companies like Lincoln Center and Soho House. His career reflects the mix of artistry and business that defines most full-time creators today.

The inclusion of creator community

This committee comes at a time when creators are asking for more transparency, legal protection and representation. Many still face murky contract terms, inconsistent pay structures and brand relationships that favor companies.

SAG-AFTRA’s inclusion of creators in its structure is both strategic and necessary. It positions the union as a player in shaping the future of online content work, not just film and television.

It also acknowledges that the creator economy is no longer a niche. With brand deals and creator-led media now worth billions, the industry’s labor protections need to catch up.

If you’re a full-time or aspiring creator, this committee could affect how you approach contracts, content licensing, and long-term career planning. Union membership through SAG-AFTRA’s influencer agreement may offer access to health insurance, residuals and other benefits that are still rare in the creator space

Adobe’s reveals Content Credentials web app

By
Gen Salinas
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Adobe Content Credentials
Image courtesy: Adobe

Adobe just launched a free beta version of its Content Credentials web app, the company’s big step toward fighting misinformation and proving originality. For creators, it adds a practical way to show that work is authentic, not AI-generated or copied.

What the tool does

Content Credentials is Adobe’s open standard for digital content authenticity. The new web app lets you upload images, add metadata like your name and location, then export those files with a secure provenance record attached.

This means creators can prove that their content has not been manipulated by AI. This tool can also protect their work from being misused or misattributed.

It is free to use, even if the user do not have a Creative Cloud subscription, an Adobe account is all that is needed.

How to use the tool

Right now, the web app lets users upload an image, attach metadata like the name, date, location and the tools used, then export the image with Content Credentials included. Creators can view that information using Adobe’s verification tool at verify.contentcredentials.org.

The app currently supports .jpg and .png files. For now, it is limited to still images. However, Adobe says video and audio support is on the roadmap.

The system is based on the open C2PA standard, which is backed by a coalition of companies including Microsoft, Nikon and Canon. The support from other companies mean that the more tools that adopt the standard, the more reliable and visible it becomes across the internet.

Maximizing the tool

Creators can use Content Credentials to sign their digital artwork and show when it was created. They can also share behind-the-scenes edits to show their creative process. If AI tools were used ethically, creators could clearly mark work as AI-generated.

This huge update is not just useful for pro creatives, it can help anyone who wants to show they made something, from freelancers to casual creators to journalists.

Meta launches Edits app

By
Gen Salinas
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Meta Edits
Image courtesy: Meta

Meta launched a new standalone app called Edits that brings TikTok-style editing tools to Instagram Reels. The new tool aims to make short-form video creation easier, faster and more intuitive, especially for creators who are used to TikTok’s timeline-based editing features.

How the Edits app works

The Edits app allows creators to modify clips using a visual timeline, similar to TikTok’s in-app editor CapCut. It also includes simplified access to common tools like trimming, cropping, adding text, inserting stickers and syncing clips to music.

Meta’s goal is to make video creation on Instagram more accessible. Executives have acknowledged that the current Reels editor hasn’t met user expectations, especially for creators who post regularly across multiple platforms.

The new app is designed to streamline the editing process within the Instagram ecosystem, reducing the need for third-party tools or time-consuming workarounds.

More features of the app

For creators already working in short-form video, Edits could help make day-to-day content production more efficient.

By allowing for frame-specific control, the app gives users a level of precision that wasn’t possible in previous versions of the Reels editor. It also reduces the friction that often comes with switching between platforms to edit and upload content.

Since many creators develop content for multiple platforms at once, a smoother editing experience on Instagram could make it easier to keep everything in sync without sacrificing quality.

An app that could Rival TikTok

TikTok has long been ahead when it comes to editing tools and creator support. Edits appears to be Meta’s effort to close that gap and offer more competitive features within the Reels ecosystem.

Whether or not the app becomes widely adopted will likely depend on how well it integrates with Instagram’s core platform and how creators respond to its design.

Featured image courtesy: Edits

Cannes Lions introduces creator programming for 2025

By
Gen Salinas
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Cannes Lions image
Image courtesy: Cannes Lions

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is expanding its focus on the creator economy with the return of the LIONS Creators program, scheduled for June 16–20, 2025, in Cannes, France.

What’s new in 2025

Building on its inaugural success in 2024, the 2025 LIONS Creators program offers a comprehensive five-day experience tailored for digital content creators. The Creator Pass includes a three-day learning program, practical workshops, exclusive networking events and access to the Creator Rooftop content studio.

Sessions will feature insights from major platforms such as Google, TikTok, Meta, Amazon, Pinterest and Linktree. Notable creators like Kai Cenat, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Keith Lee, Colin & Samir, Logan Moffitt and Grace Beverley will discuss topics ranging from platform strategies to storytelling, brand partnerships and sustainable business models.

Opportunities for emerging creators

To promote inclusivity, Billion Dollar Boy and FiveTwoNine have partnered with Cannes Lions to launch the Creator Fund, providing 20 Creator Passes to emerging U.K. and U.S.-based creators. This initiative aims to support creators who have not previously attended the festival and may face financial barriers, offering them access to sessions, networking opportunities and exclusive events.

For creators aiming to scale their businesses, enhance their content strategies and build industry connections, LIONS Creators 2025 aims to present a valuable opportunity.

For more information and to apply for the Creator Pass, visit the official Cannes Lions website.

Image courtesy: Cannes Lions

TikToker sues Roblox over viral Charli XCX “Apple” dance

By
Gen Salinas
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Noelle Leyva
Image courtesy: Noelle Leyva

A new lawsuit shows just how complicated things can get when viral content, brand deals and gaming platforms overlap. TikToker Noelle Leyva is suing Roblox for using her dance in a Charli XCX-themed Apple Music experience without her permission.

The viral dance

According to the complaint filed in California, Noelle Leyva claims Roblox used her TikTok dance without credit or payment. The dance was featured in an Apple Music “listening party” built inside Roblox’s platform, starring Charli XCX.

According to the creator, she choreographed and posted the dance on TikTok in 2021 and it went viral. In 2023, Roblox launched a Charli XCX Apple Music activation that used a motion-captured version of her dance. Leyva wasn’t notified, credited or compensated for that use.

The lawsuit argues this violated her rights under copyright and publicity laws. The creator is asking for damages and an injunction to stop further use of the dance.

This case raises questions about how creators’ content is used by platforms and brands. When a dance or trend goes viral on TikTok, it can attract attention from companies looking to incorporate that content into their own campaigns or experiences.

Key claims in the case

Original choreography may qualify for copyright protection and disputes can arise when creators believe their work is reused without permission. In this case, Noelle Leyva’s legal team argues that the motion-captured dance in the Roblox experience closely resembles her original TikTok post, which they claim amounts to unauthorized use.

Branded activations, like the Charli XCX and Apple Music event inside Roblox, add another layer of complexity. Multiple parties may be involved in producing and distributing content, making it harder to trace how creative work is sourced.

This is not the first time creators have challenged companies over the commercial use of viral dances. Similar cases have been brought against platforms like Epic Games over Fortnite emotes. As more platforms lean into creator-driven content, legal questions about ownership and usage continue to come up.

Featured image courtesy: Noelle Leyva

TikTok is launching Footnotes

By
Gen Salinas
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TikTok Footnotes
Image asset courtesy: TikTok

TikTok is testing a new feature called Footnotes, a community-driven tool designed to add context to videos and combat misinformation. This crowdsourced fact-checking tool draws from the “collective knowledge of the TikTok community.”

The platform is following a different path than Meta and X, which have leaned more heavily on user-led content moderation. TikTok is still working with over 20 fact-checking organizations worldwide, all accredited by the International Fact-Checking Network.

How the tool works

To contribute contextual notes to videos, Footnotes requires eligible users to be over 18, active for at least six months and with no recent guideline violations. The notes are then evaluated through a bridge-based voting system, promoting those supported by users with differing viewpoints.

“Footnotes offers a new opportunity for people to share their expertise and add an additional layer of context to the discussion using a consensus-driven approach,” said Adam Presser, TikTok’s Head of Operations and Trust and Safety.

Why TikTok isn’t ditching professional fact-checkers

TikTok’s sticking with its fact-checkers, even as other platforms scale back. Instead of replacing them with Footnotes, TikTok is layering the two approaches. The result is a hybrid moderation system: Users can add value in real time, but professionals still make high-stakes calls.

This helps TikTok balance trust and transparency. Community-sourced moderation can be faster and more scalable. But it also risks being gamed or flooded with low-quality input. The backup from expert organizations ensures there’s still a line of defense when misinformation gets out of control.

This hybrid approach aims to enhance content reliability while maintaining professional oversight. The rollout comes amid heightened scrutiny of TikTok’s operations in the U.S., as its Chinese parent company faces a divestiture deadline tied to national security concerns.

Image asset courtesy: TikTok ​

How to livestream solo in 2025

By
Jeff Chaves
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How to livestream solo in 2024 featured image

In a nutshell

  • It’s possible to produce a quality livestream solo by using specialized devices and software that allow for switching visuals, integrating graphics and managing audio inputs efficiently.
  • Dedicated hardware like the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro and software solutions like Switcher Studio can simplify the process of managing multiple camera feeds and graphics without needing a crew.
  • Tools such as the OSBOT Tail Air camera can autonomously track movements, ensuring dynamic and engaging video framing for solo livestreamers who need to move around during their broadcast.

Is it possible to have a quality livestream with only a solo technician-host? Like everything in video production, a livestream is often a team effort. But what happens when your team can’t be there? You could just turn your phone around and hit the go live button, but that won’t give you the quality and consistency that many successful streamers have for their streams.

This is exactly the problem I ran into when my crew (a.k.a. my wife and daughter) went off to a conference on the other side of the country. My first reaction was just to cancel the livestream for the night or do a pre-record. However, I know that our audience loves the interaction and dynamic of the live experience. I did some research and found an app that suited my needs at the time. Since that time, I’ve found a lot of great tools that could help you livestream solo.

Making the switch

The first step in any livestream is to keep the visuals moving and changing. Often times, this means that you need some kind of switcher. This can be an app or device that allows you to change up what you and your audience sees on the stream. From my experience, Switcher Studio is a great solution. It allows you to use a phone, tablet or a combination to become your cameras. You can even use the camera on the same device that you’re switching with to be a source.

There’s also a third-party device, the Accsoon Seemo, that connects your pro camera to your phone for the same quality image. Since everything is controlled with the phone or tablet, you don’t have to run any wires.

Additionally, the app uses your device’s photos and videos, so you can import all your graphics directly. There’s even a window that allows you to see comments from your social media platform and overlay them on the screen. This is perfect for the solo operator. One drawback is that the only audio input is through the device that is switching. In other words, if you’re using an iPad as your control surface, your audio must be plugged into lighting or USB C. You can’t use one of your cameras as an audio source.

Getting the hardware

Another method for the solo livestream is using a dedicated small switching unit like the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro. A switcher allows you to switch between multiple camera feeds using one solution. In the case of the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro, it connects directly to a network via Ethernet and will go live with just a single push of a button. As for graphics, those can be brought in with a connected laptop or tablet. That means your solo setup is going to take up a larger footprint. The Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro units come in either HDMI or SDI models, so interfacing your current cameras is not an issue.

There’s also switchers that are both hardwired-based and app-based, such as the Roland AeroCaster Livestreaming System. This is a separate device that allows you to switch between multiple phones or tablets that act as cameras. It features all the features of an app but gives you a physical control surface to switch. Because it’s a Roland, it has a great audio interface and includes standard XLR inputs. Unfortunately, there’s not a way to interface a separate camera. One more device that you might consider for a solo livestream is the Atomos AtomX CAST Module for the Ninja V monitors. If you already own a Nija V or V+, the AtomX CAST makes for a great companion. It has buttons on the front for easy switching and four additional HDMI inputs in the back. The unit can be battery-operated or plugged in with a separate plug. The USB-C plug in the back can connect to a computer for streaming. This device will only work with the Ninja V monitor and can be purchased as a bundle by some retailers.

Keeping it moving

There’s one more consideration for a solo act besides switching and streaming: movement. How can you keep the camera framed and focused on you if you move around a lot? Let’s say you have a cooking show or some kind of IRL sports stream. You can just keep everything locked down on a wide shot, but there are tools for that. The OSBOT Tail Air is an AI-powered PTZ camera that will follow our every move. It is a 4K camera with a 4x zoom lens. It has a Micro-HDMI output so it can connect with the hardwired switchers mentioned previously.

The time to start streaming is now

The tools are available, and it is possible to have a quality livestream without a crew. You can add graphics and videos. You can switch camera angles and even have a camera that follows you. Perhaps the biggest adjustment that you have to make is in your own mind. It takes some practice and planning to be able to press the buttons at the same time you’re talking. The best way to get started with livestream in 2025 is to simply hit the live button and get going.

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