Finfluencers win over Gen Z, Claire's taps creators for its squishy hunting craze, AMC premieres a full episode on TikTok, and YouTube animators outpace Hollywood with young audiences

Nearly 70% of Gen Z say finfluencers shape their money decisions, and brands are taking note. Claire's is riding a viral squishy hunting trend by enlisting creators and building social-first content for Gen Alpha. AMC is testing TikTok as a premiere window, dropping a full comedy episode in 21 short-form clips. And YouTube's latest Culture & Trends report shows independent animators are now outpacing studios with younger viewers, opening new sponsorship lanes for advertisers.

Creator Economy Stats: April 13, 2026

70% of Gen Zers say online financial trends influence their money decisions, turning finfluencers into a real channel for fintech and financial services brands.

12.5% of all U.S. TV viewing now goes to YouTube, topping every other distributor for the 11th straight month per Nielsen. Creator content is eating linear TV.

195% increase in net promoter score among Gen Z parents after Bobbie partnered with Cardi B as its Chief Confidence Officer, proving creator-led campaigns move brand trust.

63% of 14-to-24-year-old animation fans watch YouTube original animated series weekly or more, outpacing studio content and opening a brand-safe sponsorship lane for advertisers.

105% year-over-year growth in Creator Lab registrations at NAB Show 2026, a sign that legacy entertainment and brands are rushing to learn the creator playbook.

What Should Marketers Know This Week?

HarperCollins is turning authors’ books into AI YouTube Shorts.

The publisher partnered with AI-powered studio Toonstar to transform popular book titles into animated YouTube Shorts and accompanying graphic novels. This initiative allows for scalable content creation, reaching new audiences on platforms like YouTube, and signifies a growing trend among publishers to integrate AI into their content strategy. This highlights innovative ways to repurpose existing intellectual property and the increasing role of AI in content production and distribution.

YouTube just made a Shorts deepfake machine so creators don’t have to be in their own videos.

YouTube has launched a new AI feature for Shorts that allows creators to generate videos using a deepfake 'AI avatar' of themselves, eliminating the need for them to appear on camera. This development aims to simplify content creation but raises significant questions regarding authenticity and the evolving nature of creator-audience relationships. Marketers should consider how this could impact content authenticity and the future landscape of creator engagement.

Finfluencer content is rapidly gaining traction, particularly among Gen Z.

Younger generations are increasingly influenced by social media for their investment decisions, with creators offering relatable financial advice. This trend presents both opportunities and risks for marketers as it reshapes financial literacy and consumer behavior, while also attracting regulatory scrutiny. Brands in financial services must understand how to engage with this influential demographic responsibly and effectively.

Claire's is enlisting creators and building its own social content to ride the viral 'squishy hunting' trend with Gen Alpha.

The retailer is leveraging product drops, creator relationships, and social media engagement to reestablish itself as a relevant destination for teens. This approach demonstrates how marketers can harness social media trends and creator collaborations to drive both online buzz and offline retail traffic. This proves crucial for brand revitalization and connecting with younger demographics through authentic, trend-driven content.

AMC is premiering a full TV episode on TikTok, split into 21 three-minute clips.

The network is dropping its new comedy 'The Audacity' natively on TikTok to reach younger viewers before it airs on TV. A signal that legacy media now sees short-form creator platforms as a launch channel, not just a promo tool. Watch how this performs. If it works, expect more networks to treat TikTok and Shorts as premiere windows, which opens new ad inventory and creator tie-in opportunities.

YouTube says independent animators are outpacing Hollywood studios with younger audiences.

A new YouTube Culture & Trends report found 63% of 14-to-24-year-old animation fans watch creator-made animated series weekly, and 61% say they enjoy them as much as or more than studio productions. For brands targeting Gen Z, creator-led animation is an underpriced sponsorship lane with built-in fandom and high weekly engagement.

What Changed on Social Platforms?

Meta

Instagram introduced a long-awaited comment editing feature, allowing users to revise their comments within 15 minutes of posting. (About)

Instagram is expanding its 13+ content rating and Limited Content setting internationally, automatically placing users under 18 into this restricted view. (About)

TikTok

TikTok integrated with Wix, enabling small and medium-sized ecommerce brands to directly connect their digital storefronts to the short-form video platform. (MediaPost)

YouTube

YouTube is testing two new features for Premium subscribers: "Auto Speed," which automatically adjusts video playback, and "On-the-go," designed to simplify audio-focused content playback. (Dexerto)

YouTube is rolling out AI-powered avatars that allow creators to generate videos, particularly Shorts, using a digital twin of their face and voice. (Dexerto)

Snapchat

Snapchat is pushing Snapcodes as a marketing tool for advertisers, letting brands integrate AR experiences, discounts, and exclusive content through customizable QR codes. (Marketing Dive)

Which Brands Are Working with Creators Right Now?

Cool Sips

Whitney Leavitt, a prominent "Mormon Wives" star and influencer credited with popularizing dirty soda, has been named Cool Sips' first Chief Creative and Brand Officer. This appointment highlights a significant shift where influencers are moving beyond promotional roles to hold executive positions, leveraging their authentic cultural insights and audience connection to drive brand strategy and growth. (Ad Age)

k2o

Kylie Jenner has launched k2o, a hydration powder infused with beauty-boosting ingredients, in partnership with creator management firm Night's venture studio. This collaboration exemplifies the increasing convergence of traditional celebrity power with creator economy models for product development and marketing, demonstrating the significant impact of leveraging personal brands and strategic partnerships. (Tubefilter)

MCoBeauty

MCoBeauty tapped Tana Mongeau for a 7-part microdrama series called 'If You Know, You MCo,' pairing scripted vertical video with real escape rooms at 30 Escapology locations. A playbook for turning creator content into IRL brand experiences. (Marketing Brew)

Hoorae Media x TikTok

Issa Rae's Hoorae Media signed a first-of-its-kind deal with TikTok to co-develop a slate of micro-series, starting with 'Screen Time.' The shows will run free and ad-supported on TikTok and its new PineDrama app. (TikTok Newsroom)

PepsiCo Flavor Swap

PepsiCo's first creator-led product line pairs Madison Beer, iShowSpeed, and Dude Perfect with custom chip flavors. Creators were involved from product conception, and the line launched on TikTok Shop before hitting retail shelves. (Marketing Dive)

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