Why TikTok's Creator Fund Matters

[GarrettRobinson]

This is so funny, because Amazon’s ebook store has actually had a system like this for years and it’s awesome.

There is a Kindle Unlimited program authors can opt into. It has a fund of $20+ million per month. That money is divided among authors based on how many PAGES of your books readers read. Amazon tracks it and pays you. It ends up about $0.0045 per page.

Normal book sales strategies reward authors for flashy covers and good book descriptions, plus manipulating the algorithm. Kindle Unlimited ends up rewarding authors for creating obsessed readers who are always reading. It’s much more inline with my personal author goals. And over the years I’ve made WAY more money from Kindle Unlimited than from regular book sales.

I’m really glad to see TikTok do this and it makes me want to give the platform a shot.

[MuazOsman]

This reminds me of how Youtube treats us; third world creators.
Because we get neglected even if our channels grow and get views simply because our countries don't have youtube ads or make less money than other countries.
Imagine me being picked as a Youtube creators for change ambassador, among 40 people from around the world, and me being the ONLY CREATOR FROM AFRICA!
Like the whole contenant had less representation than a single country; the US for example with more than 10 creators! it baffles me.

This is why most of the Youtubers in my country Sudan have stopped doing YouTube or went on to change their content's language from our native tongue simply because we can't make money out of our locally spoken and driven content.

A huge point where people do not see the bigger issue, which is; a *lack of representation*
You start losing local content creators, you start losing people that you can relate to and enjoy their content, you start losing more and more of your identity bit by bit. Which is happening.

Being one of the bigger channels in my country I still struggle to keep the lights on and the water running with the pennies I make from Youtube (I make around 140$ a month with 3 channels and more than 300, 000 subs, which isn't even enough even if our countries economy is screwed), can't help but feel very bad for small creators.

This is a huge move for Tiktok, hopefully facebook makes a move like this and starts making Instagram working for their creators.

[carykh]

This is interesting! I've been hearing TikTokkers say "I'll get paid 3 cents per 1, 000 views this TikTok gets, so if you guys give me X views, I can afford Y." That's a much more accurate/confident value than any YouTuber could claim. On the other hand, it's also much, much lower than YouTube's average rate (which might be like 300 cents per 1, 000 views). But on the OTHER other hand, people also watch one TikTok for maybe 1/100 of the time they watch a YouTube video. So maybe it comes out the same in the end.

Either way, it's a nice concept to have a flat-rate of revenue earned just based on your viewcount, and not determined by mysterious supernatural forces behind Google AdSense that no human could explain. (When looking at my AdSense page, I often think, "ok, my CPM went up by 5% this month, but... what could I even do with that information?") In a way, TikTok's creator fund feels more transparent, at least.

[JackRackam]

As someone who doesn't use TikTok, I never knew you were so big on TikTok!

[dline]

Put it in a "read it later" pile and haven't had the focus to read today. Thank you for doing this, and I would appreciate the audio-versions of your newsletter very much.

[wilsonxcassie]

Totally agree that getting paid through the creator fund is encouraging me to make higher quality content because I watch that daily amount fluctuate with the effort I put in which makes a BIG difference as a smaller creator ($0.10 vs $0.50 per day feels significant for me). I was gonna start making YouTube videos (and briefly tried) but then my TikTok gained some traction and the creator fund started. It's nice to be compensated for creating, especially when, for me, that often times includes educating people on disabilities, ableism, etc.

[Unintel-li-gible]

Thank you hank, this is never something I would have thought about or realized is important. You explained it in a way that really easy to understand

[kimmykimmie]

I just love being able to listen to this. I feel like I take it in better and understand. Thanks for talking about cool things! Especially since I use TikTok a decent amount

[MirorRflction]

It occurred to me while listening to this that this style of video on hanks channel is basically Hanks equivalent of John's Essay podcast the Anthropocene Reviewed, and I love both of these things!

[doitsujin]

As someone who is dyslexic, i would like to thank you for your decision to make this.
So here it goes...
Thanks Hank!

[abigailjean]

I was like 10 seconds into this when I saw another YouTuber uploaded, I went, and came back before they finished the first sentence. Watching things shouldn’t be compulsory just because we do that specific thing often, it should be intentionally enjoyable, and despite the fact I deleted Tiktok over a year ago because I wasted too much time, this is what I want to watch, and so I shall.

[splash__]

Thanks for posting a link in the description. Since I would have otherwise not known about this and I often find it eaiser to read then listen.

[HotRodHippie]

I hadn't thought of the egalitarian nature of the TT Creator Fund. That feels so weird to think about.

[Hillary]

Thank you for making the audio version, Evelyn from the Internet’s also started offering an audio version of her newsletter 🎧 🎶

[themadrobot]

I mean kinda sounds like TikTok gonna keep 99% of there money and and drip feed the creators only enough to inspire hope

[mouseluva]

I have never used TikTok and do not plan to, but I am very much enjoying watching the Vlogbrothers philosophise on it! Esp the hilarious Dear Hank and John moments it creates :)

[armorsmith]

If this is “money is interpersonal Dopamine”, yes.

[samb]

Thanks heaps for letting me know about this! I do love your content about how the systems of media that I give my attention to are monetized and the impact that has on the type of content that gets made.

[ssatva]

So I'm curious about your thoughts on Nebula. I'm enjoying it as a user, but it's... an interesting case. It would be interesting to see your breakdown/impressions.

[Teefschomp]

Thank you for taking the time to put this in audio format 🤟