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Here is what I think…
Creator spaces change every day.
Features shift. Algorithms move. What worked yesterday can feel useless today. That constant motion leaves a lot of creators feeling behind, second-guessing their voice, their value, and their direction.
Siembra Connect exists to steady that chaos. Here, I help you tune out the noise, focus on what matters, and grow with intention instead of panic. This isn’t about chasing trends or gaming platforms. It’s about planting roots…building clarity, skills, and ownership that last, even as the landscape keeps changing.
The platforms will always evolve.
Your foundation doesn’t have to.
If you want clarity instead of chaos, subscribe to the Siembra Connect and get these insights delivered directly to your inbox.
❤️, George
Community Partner: Dedicated Tax Pros
FEATURED CREATOR
Ruby Garcia
Ruby Garcia is a keynote speaker, leadership coach, and co-founder of the Latino AI Summit… the first event of its kind centering Latino voices in AI literacy, leadership, and innovation. She works with high-achieving first-generation Latinas to build executive presence, overcome imposter syndrome, and access opportunities that reflect their worth. Through private coaching, group programs, and corporate workshops,
Ruby is addressing a critical gap: Latinas make up 9% of the U.S. population but hold just 1% of C-suite positions. What began as a grassroots effort has evolved into a movement driving representation and ownership in tech's future, proving that when Latinas show up fully and strategically, they transform not just their own trajectories but their families, workplaces, and communities.
All accolades aside… Ruby is just one of the most supportive bridge builders I know… connect with her on LinkedIn.
Tomorrow… the first Latino AI Summit is taking place…
The Latino AI Summit 2026 is a two-day virtual event bringing together Latino leaders, educators, technologists, entrepreneurs, and community advocates to explore how Latinos are shaping and leading the future of Artificial Intelligence across sectors. The Latino AI Summit features live sessions, panels, and conversations designed to be accessible, practical, and community-centered.
Takeaway: Register now… for the Latino AI Summit.
CREATOR ECONOMY NEWS
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
The era of "growth at all costs" officially ended this morning.
As the sun rose over Los Angeles, lawyers representing hundreds of school districts and families walked into the Superior Court to face Meta, TikTok, Snap, and YouTube. The charge? That these platforms were intentionally designed to be addictive. Legal analysts are already calling this social media’s "Tobacco Moment"—the point where the product is no longer seen as a utility, but as a regulated hazard.
For creators, this isn't just a headline. It is the invisible hand that can rewrite your paycheck this week.
The Panic at TikTok
The tremors are hitting TikTok first and hardest. Following the chaotic transfer of ownership to the "TikTok USDS Joint Venture" this past weekend, the platform is breaking in real-time.
Creators woke up Monday to find their Creator Rewards dashboards blank or glitching, with earnings vanishing into the ether. But the bigger story is the algorithm's defensive pivot. Terrified of the "addiction" liability, TikTok’s new US leadership is quietly re-weighting the feed. The new metric that matters is "Session Value."
If a viewer watches your video and immediately closes the app (the "rage quit" or "doom-scroll guilt" effect), the algorithm now marks your content as toxic. If they watch your video and stay for three more, you are a "good host." The days of engagement-baiting and anxiety-inducing hooks are over. The algorithm now demands you be the bridge to more watch time, not the end of it.
Instagram Retreats to the Living Room
While TikTok scrambles, Instagram is quietly closing the doors. You may have noticed a subtle but earth-shaking change in your profile header: a test replacing "Following" with "Friends."
This is Meta reading the room. The "open feed" experiment—where we tried to make everyone famous—is fading. By highlighting "Friends" (mutual follows) over "Following" (parasocial relationships), Instagram is signaling that the future of the app is in the DMs and small circles, not the public square. For creators, this means "Active Mutuals" (people you engage with back and forth) are now worth 10x more than passive followers.
The "Boring" Pivot
With the main stages in chaos, smart creators are moving their chips to "boring" bets.
YouTube is quietly becoming the permissive parent. In a surprise update to their "Advertiser-Friendly" guidelines, they’ve actually relaxed rules on "controversial issues" and "sensual dancing," provided it’s non-graphic. While TikTok tightens up, YouTube is opening up, realizing they need to be the safe harbor for expression.
LinkedIn has fully embraced its "video-first" identity. The feed is no longer about company pages; it's about personal profiles. If you are an educator or B2B creator, the reach here is currently higher than Instagram, provided you show your face.
Newsletters have become the "Relationship Ledger." In a world where algorithms are now legally liable liabilities, email is the only safe harbor. The new vanity metric isn't Open Rate; it's Reply Rate. Creators are pivoting to "Inbox-First" media, where the goal is a private conversation, not a public performance.
Podcasting is the new "Prestige TV." With the Golden Globes awarding their first "Best Podcast" trophy this month, the format has shed its scrappy image. It is the "Anti-Scroll." While short-form video fights for 3 seconds of attention, video podcasts on Netflix, Spotify and YouTube are commanding 40+ minutes. It is the deep end of the pool for audiences tired of the shallow water.
Pinterest remains the unbothered winner. While others fight for attention, Pinterest’s search-intent model is driving massive affiliate revenue for creators who are tired of the hamster wheel.
Why AI Isn’t Replacing Affiliate Marketing After All
“AI will make affiliate marketing irrelevant.”
Our new research shows the opposite.
Levanta surveyed 1,000 US consumers to understand how AI is influencing the buying journey. The findings reveal a clear pattern: shoppers use AI tools to explore options, but they continue to rely on human-driven content before making a purchase.
Here is what the data shows:
Less than 10% of shoppers click AI-recommended links
Nearly 87% discover products on social platforms or blogs before purchasing on marketplaces
Review sites rank higher in trust than AI assistants
What You Must Do This Week
The signals are screaming one thing: Safety.
Advertisers are fleeing the "addiction" narrative. They don't want to be associated with content that drags users down.
Check your "Exit Rate": If you have access to retention data, look for where people drop off. If they leave at the end of your video, you are in danger of the "Session Value" penalty. Add a "Bridge" at the end—recommend another video or a specific playlist to keep them in the app.
Audit for "Mutuals": On Instagram, spend 15 minutes a day replying to Stories. Turn followers into "Friends" in the eyes of the algorithm.
Diversify into Search: If TikTok is breaking, make sure your content is searchable on YouTube or Pinterest. Search intent doesn't glitch when ownership changes.
The party isn't over, but the lights have been turned on. It’s time to clean up.
With the algorithmic landscape shifting toward "meaningful" connection over raw views, this breakdown from a fellow creator offers a grounded perspective on how to survive the year without burning out.
This video is relevant because it directly addresses the mental shift creators need to make in 2026—moving away from "grind" metrics toward sustainable, community-focused content that aligns with the new "safe" algorithms.
Upcoming Creator Events
1/28-1/29: Latino AI Summit
3/19-3/20: Social Fresh NY
Building the 2026 Creator Event Calendar "We are currently curating our Spring/Summer 2026 Industry Watchlist and are looking for the best in-person gatherings happening across the US.
If your organization is hosting a summit, conference, or creator mixer this year, we want to know.
We are specifically looking for:
Creator Economy Summits (Monetization, Brand Deals, Tech)
Platform-Specific Conferences (Video Marketing, Podcasting, Live Streaming)
Niche Community Meetups (Travel, Gaming, Education, Wellness)
Get on the radar: Email me at [email protected] with your event dates, location, and a registration link. We will be featuring the most high-impact events in an upcoming brief.
