AI
The business of AI slop
The videos are fake. But the money is very real.
Creators
YouTube propaganda
Mega-creators like IShowSpeed are going on government-sponsored international tours. Is it propaganda, or just good advertising?
Profiles
Emily's endless stream
"They’re judged all the time. They don’t get a break from the constant surveillance. ... Is it any wonder these people burn out?"
AI
My bot, my self
A new wave of selfie-generating chatbots, made in our own images, end up revealing how much humanity they leave behind.
Profiles
Inside a $10 million OnlyFans farm
In Florida, I saw firsthand how the new business of sex is changing the web.
Creators
MrBeast's neighborhood
In Greenville, N.C., the unlikely home of YouTube's biggest star, the neighbors are all part of the spectacle — whether they like it or not.
Creators
The business of online influence
"You’re basically working for the internet, and on the internet, you are very easily replaced."
Profiles
Up all night with a Twitch millionaire
"There are just eyes on you, always on you. Kids grew up watching me for 10 hours a day. It feels like it’s been my whole life.”