Creator Economy

The rise of social media platforms has catalyzed the substantial growth of an economy centered around independent content creators. This "creator economy" encompasses a variety of fields, including vlogging, writing, educational content, skill-building, and gaming. Supported by third-party tools and services that facilitate video production and financial management, it enables content creators to establish reliable revenue streams. The creator economy is now a significant global industry valued at $250 billion. It employs hundreds of millions of workers, serves hundreds of millions of customers, and even has a trade association and work-credentialing programs.

In the U.S., this impact is particularly evident in the case of YouTube. The video platform supported approximately 390,000 full-time jobs in 2022, four times greater than the number of employees at General Motors. Planners should be aware of the substantial potential of the creator economy to continue disrupting traditional industries, highlighting its significant role in the modern economic landscape.