Last Days of TikTok 🥺

Creators express their thoughts!

What exactly makes Adobe Firefly different?

Adobe has recently introduced Firefly, a game-changing AI-powered tool that is set to revolutionize the creative industry. As the Adobe Suite has been the industry standard for years, it's crucial for creators to understand how Firefly will impact the creator economy. While mobile editing software like CapCut and Mojo are suitable for personal content, professionals planning to work and collaborate within the industry will need to consider learning industry-leading software like Premiere.

Firefly will be integrated into Adobe's existing suite of products, offering creators an even more comprehensive and advanced creative toolbox. This integration not only provides convenience but also allows Adobe to highlight the ethical foundation of their platform. Unlike the popular text-to-image software Midiourney, which has faced criticism for using unauthorized images to train its AI image generator, Firefly has been developed using Adobe Stock images, openly licensed content, and public domain content.

Some of the main features of Adobe Firefly include:

  • Text to image generation

  • Text effects tool

  • Inpainting for adding, removing, or replacing objects

  • Text description to vector files (major for designers)

  • View more here

With Firefly, creators can speed up their workflow, generate ideas faster, and potentially create work that they couldn't before. The integration of Firefly into Adobe's Creative Cloud will make it easier to use, while the training on licensed images and the implementation of content authenticity will address copyright and AI issues.

In conclusion, Adobe Firefly is set to transform the creative industry, offering creators an AI-powered tool that is both convenient and ethically built. As clients increasingly value the use of AI tools for improving the creative process without compromising quality, Firefly is poised to become an essential part of the creative professional's toolbox. It is crucial for those in the industry to familiarize themselves with this cutting-edge tool to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge.

It is our pleasure to announce this week’s Digital Hustlers of the Week, John Henry (left) and Brande Victorian (right). These two are movers and shakers of their respective industries, and have gotten the chance to work with some of the most notable people in the tech and entertainment industries!

Brande Victorian is an accomplished writer and digital editorial leader renowned for genuine storytelling and engaging celebrity interviews. As CEO of Be Enough, and the Entertainment head at ESSENCE magazine, Brande has reported from red carpet premieres from LA to London, provided insights on Good Morning America and AP News, and been highlighted in Forbes. Prior to her foray into digital lifestyle and entertainment, Brande worked in medical publishing, becoming the first woman and first African-American Editor-in-Chief of the Hearing Journal. Keep an eye out for her captivating interviews with Hollywood's top talents!

On the other hand we would like to highlight John Henry, an entrepreneur, thought leader and investor. He serves as the co-founder and co-CEO of Loop, an insurance technology startup that aims to make auto insurance more equitable for all. Henry is also the co-founder of Harlem Capital, which looks to help minorities get in front of venture capital funding. He has been named to the Inc 30 Under 30, Adweek Creative 100, Forbes 30 Under 30, The Root 100 and Ebony Power 100 lists. Henry hosted the TV show ‘Hustle’ on VICELAND, Executive Produced by Alicia Keys and Marcus Samuelsson; and produced and hosted branded podcasts for brands like The Washington Post, Gimlet Media, WeWork, eBay, and Samsung. Taking the time to watch any of his previous interviews will show you how much of a value-add this gentleman is to our community.

With a combined Instagram following of 170K people, Brande and John are the ultimate inspirations for anyone looking to reach the heights of your respective industry, even if it is after a pivot!

The congressional hearing didn't look good for TikTok

In a recent TikTok congressional hearing, lawmakers expressed concerns over potential Chinese influence on the platform and the negative impact on children's mental health. The hearing focused on the need for regulation to 'prevent a situation like TikTok's from happening again in the United States' said Cathy Rodgers. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was questioned about the company's affiliation with China-based parent company ByteDance and the Chinese Communist Party, which he repeatedly denied when given the opportunity to speak. Despite this, many Americans took to TikTok to express their outrage and embarrassment at the simplicity of the questions posed to Chew, as well as the disrespect whenever he tried to speak.

The US is considering new laws to address the potential risks of platforms like TikTok, that are based outside of our borders. The law would focus on ensuring that foreign-owned platforms do not compromise national security or allow for the distribution of what the government deems 'harmful content'.

Chew presented a proposal called "Project Texas," which included the following points:

  • TikTok's US user data would be stored and managed in Texas by Oracle Corp. (US Based)

  • An in-house committee approved by the US government would monitor the project's operations

  • A 3rd Party will also have access to the source code to verify full legitimacy

Despite Chew's efforts to explain this plan, and its unique positioning as no other company in the industry provides access to their source code, lawmakers were not convinced. He faced accusations of avoiding questions about the app's impact on children's mental health and his affiliation with the Chinese Government. The American public's reaction to the hearing has been mixed, with some expressing support for the proposed regulations while others criticize the approach taken by Congress. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen what impact these regulations will have on the future of TikTok and similar platforms.

Creator Economy meets NIL

Since the beginning of time, the committee in charge of collegiate athletics has considered college athletes to be amateurs, which meant they couldn't make money off their name, image or likeness without risking their eligibility to play. This has all changed here recently, and the doors are wide-open for athletes to earn money through endorsements, sponsorships and many more engaging avenues.

This new legislation known as N.I.L became effective about 2 summers ago in July of 2021. In that time, brands and local businesses have poured hundreds of thousands into athletes. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) is not a new concept in its entirety, just newly approved for collegiate and soon-to-be high school athletes. It simply means for the athlete they can use their NIL in exchange for money, meals, apparel or whatever perks the deal entails. There once was a time when athletes would get suspended from playing or completely kicked out of college if they attempted to make money off their personal brand. Look below at some of the top evaluations going into the 2023 NCAA March Madness Tournament.

The NIL legislation has been met with mixed reactions. While many celebrate the opportunities it presents for athletes to earn money, others worry that the focus on business opportunities might overshadow the love for the game itself. Additionally, there's concern about the lack of regulation in place, as NIL is currently governed on a state-by-state and in some cases school-by-school basis.

However, I believe the true impact of NIL will be the community-building aspect between college athletes and local businesses. Sure, big names like Gatorade and Nike will still play a significant role, but small businesses can also leverage the power of NIL to reach and impact new audiences. I also see this as a massive opportunity for former athletes to form business models that support this growing industry. Schools must offer financial literacy classes to their athletes to be eligible, who's teaching/building the curriculums for all the universities? Campaigns must be fulfilled, rather it is video or photo productions, who's going to help the athletes/schools produce this content? Who's going to actually find and broker the deal for the athletes? There is a lot of opportunity in this space, and we will continue to cover details as time goes on!

Digital Dimes