Briefing | Serfing the web

The new rules of the “creator economy”

Social-media platforms used to get most of their content for free. That dynamic is changing

“LOOK AT YOU down there, trying to run for your life,” jeers Summer Solesis, peering down at the camera. “You don’t stand a chance against my giant, size 11 feet!” Standing over her phone, she pretends to stamp on the viewer, who gets the effect—sort of—that Ms Solesis is a “giantess with dirty feet getting rid of the tiny men infesting my house”, as one video is captioned. The production quality is low-fi, but viewers seem not to mind. “Unforgettable sweet crushing,” swoons one fan, Sven, in the comments below.

This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “Serfing the web”

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