YouTube, Meta, and TikTok are suddenly rolling out a slate of new teen safety features. Is this a genuine effort to protect young users, or a reaction to massive regulatory pressure and potential fines? (That's not stopping YouTube from reversing a controversial policy on profanity, trusting its AI to keep advertisers happy.)

And: MrBeast expands his empire, launching an animated series to create a modern-day cartoon-for-toys franchise reminiscent of 80s classics like He-Man and G.I. Joe.

Finally: the PR masterclass from Astronomer, who hired Gwyneth Paltrow for a crisis-response ad after its CEO went viral for all the wrong reasons. And we break down the shocking collapse of VTuber agency VShojo, which shut its doors after failing to pay top talents like Ironmouse.

00:00 Introduction

03:16 Platforms Enhance Teen Safety

05:49 YouTube Reverses Profanity Policy

09:01 Zuckerberg's AI Ad Takeover

10:42 Big Tech's Race to Protect Minors

12:27 The Real Reason for Platform Safety Updates

15:14 The Power of Incentives

18:08 MrBeast's Toy Empire Expands

22:02 UPLOAD: The Perfect Crisis Response

25:25 DOWNLOAD: VShojo Shuts Down Amid Scandal

28:41 Outro

Creator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.

Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/

Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/

Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/

Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand