YouTube Earnings, Twitch Weekly Badge, Mog on Strangers + Faze Now CORE

Hello, and welcome to the newsletter! There are some really interesting shifts happening in the creator space lately. We're getting some early signs that platforms (namely Twitter X and Instagram) are recognizing the issues with non-original content. They are both in the early stages of handling aggregators who aren't creating anything original. I'm expecting that trend to continue, and more platforms will pivot to building systems to handle the flood that's been proven via the Clipping space.

At the same time, we're also seeing that trust is once again becoming a key commodity for creators - and will be harder to earn in the years ahead. We had platform-level systems (Twitch Partner, Twitter Checkmark, YouTube Verification) in the past that provided a high-level trust layer. You generally knew that people with those marks had built something legitimate and were worthy of your trust, even if you didn't know them (which does also create problems). However, most of those systems are now fully corrupted through viewbotting, or lowered criteria, or outright payments. They're still cool - but they don't indicate trust/value anymore. Somewhat Black Mirror-y, but the base-layer trust system coming next is 'verified human'. And for creators, beyond being a verified human, your most valuable asset will be the aforementioned trust. I have more to say on this, but I wanted to bring it up and give you something to think about before I share more of my perspective! So with that said, let's get into the recap!

🟪 TWITCH

• Twitch is testing a Weekly Rewards Badge that upgrades as long as you visit a stream 3x per week. The test is only available to some users, and creators have no control over it. The earned badge is limited to the stream it is earned in.
• Twitch is retiring the clips.twitch.tv linking system, opting for one that includes the streamer name instead.
• The Get Custom Power-Up API endpoint is now in open beta.
• Twitch released the exhibitor list for Twitchcon Rotterdam 2026.
• Twitch has added three Promotion tokens to be used across 24 hours to streamers' Sub Discount feature.
• Growl has left Twitch after 8 years.
• New Badge: Unicorn Tachanka ($)
• Twitch released its H2 2025 Transparency Report. Are you not reporting things anymore?! There was a 22% decrease in reports!

🟥 YOUTUBE

• YouTube is running an experiment on mobile devices that changes thumbnail and video sizes in the home feed, which may result in some cropping.
• You can now upload Multi-Language Thumbnails.
• YouTube is testing a conversational search. It can help you plan a trip, including what to see and where to go.
• Ads generated $9.88B in Q1 of 2026 (up 10.7% year-over-year). Sheesh.. And Q1 is the worst quarter for ads.
• YouTube TV now has customizable multiview.
• How are you feeling about YouTube's new livestream side-by-side ads? They're a Twitch clone, so I've not been bothered by them, but YouTube users aren't enjoying them.

🟦 OTHER STREAMERS

• WhatNot was put on the Time 100.