Kmart just sold out of their budget Meta smart glasses.
Now Australia is calling to ban them.
Two weeks ago, Kmart released their version of the Meta Ray-Ban. Same covert filming. Quarter of the price.
It sold out in days, and it reignited a debate that had been simmering for months.
The BBC reported that Meta contractors have reviewed footage of âwomen undressingâ and other intimate moments, captured by people who had no idea they were being filmed.
So after Kmartâs launch, Electronic Frontiers Australia is now calling for smart glasses to be banned outright.
This debate feels familiar. We had it with drones a decade ago.
But thereâs a difference. You always knew when a drone was above you. You couldnât miss it, and the footage wasnât quietly reviewed by strangers training an AI model.
Now the camera is invisible and indistinguishable from any other pair of glasses.
In public, you have no expectation of visual privacy, thatâs what security cameras and street photographers rely on. But audio is different. Most places have two-party consent laws that should protect people from having their audio being recorded without their knowledge.
So we need existing laws enforced to this new technology, plus whatever is needed needed to prevent Meta from capturing our most intimate moments.
As a creator, I get the appeal. No more bulky GoPro getting in the way of a shot. There are also huge benefits to visually and audio impaired individuals.
But at the same time, if you no longer know when you are being recorded and your most intimate moments are being broadcast to Metaâs servers ... itâs feeling a little bit too much like Snowdenâs NSA.
Not because of the priceâbut because of one logo.
Qatar was everywhere during the 2022 World Cupânot just for football, but for human rights abuses. Migrant worker deaths, LGBTQIA+ persecution, global boycotts. And yet here I was, about to wear their name across my chest.
Then it hit meâwhy does this logo feel like a statement, but a U.S., Aus, or U.K. emblem doesnât? These countries have their own legaciesâwars, colonialism, human rights violations.
Why do some symbols spark outrage while others barely register?
Media doesnât just report the newsâit decides what we care about. Algorithms and ownership shape which stories explode and which fade into obscurity.
So ⌠whoâs really controlling what's 'controversial'? And how much of our morality is shaped by forces we can't see?
A U.S. Senator, Luke Skywalker, and a Bunch of Streamers Walk Into a Livestream... đŽđ
Either the start of a terrible joke, or a hilarious fact. đ
For the Democrats, Bernie Sanders was one of the most prominent figures across the media landscape during the recent election cycle.
At 83 years old, with over four decades of public service, Bernieâs presence in the digital world isnât what youâd expect.
Yet, there he wasâon a livestream with a V-Tuber caricature (Sykkuno), video game streamers (Valkyrae and Pokimane), Twitch host (AustinShow), and even a surprise appearance by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker).
The result? A bizarre yet fascinating cultural collision. đ¤Ż
While Bernie was often lost on the cultural references of the Millennial streamers, his willingness to engage nonetheless speaks volumes.
He understands that the conversation has moved onlineâand heâs showing up. Even if he probably has someone on his team who actually knows what is going on and the importance of who he is speaking to and their audiences.
The night before the Sidemen Charity Match, MrBeast had rented out a double-decker bus, wrapped it in Feastables branding, and was touring the city with some of the biggest creators on the planet.
No TV ads. No viral video. Just a loud, mobile spectacle designed for one thing: to own attention. đŁ
And it worked!
Crowds gathered, social media exploded, and fans trekked across the city just for a chance to see it in person. But this isn't just about selling chocolateâit is a blueprint for how creators are breaking into the physical world.
đ The bigger picture?
- MrBeast didnât stop with the busâFeastables was everywhere, from Wembley Stadium banners to sponsoring the YouTube All Stars team.
- More creators are moving beyond digital-first marketingâfrom KSI and Logan's global PRIME launches, to the TimothĂŠe Chalamet look-alike contest in NYC.
- This isnât just about flexing fameâitâs about building trust, delivering value, and cultivating community.
Is this where creator marketing is headed? Are we entering an era where YouTubers turn cities into their playgroundsâleveraging real-world activations to cut through digital saturation?
Drop your thoughts below đ and watch the video where I found the bus. Also, subscribe to Creators Trove to read these stories early www.creatorstrove.com/newsletter
From being kicked off YouTube to achieving Hollywood successâthis may just be the craziest career rollercoaster of all time đ
Danny and Michael Philippou or "RackaRacka" achieved early success on YouTube, bringing in over a billion views on their action-packed, overproduced skits.
But as YouTube changed their definition of "advertiser friendly", Danny and Michael could no longer afford to produce their iconic videos.
So, they took a step back, spent a few years writing a feature script, and raised a relatively small sum to produce an indie horror film in their backyard of Adelaide, Australia. đŹ đŚđş
So, how did it turn out?
After premiering at Sundance, A24 (Oscar-sweeping production studio), became their official distributer, and upon release, they grossed nearly $100M from a $4.5M budget!! Becoming A24's second highest grossing film EVER. đ°
Beyond this, what helped the film's explosion was their deep ties to the YouTube community. The brothers were able to feature on countless major podcasts and create viral clips that allowed them to dominate the legacy industry from new media. đď¸
Now, their sequel Bring Her Back is set for May 2025.
The industry is changing. Celebrities are scrambling to break into new media, while creators are proving they can take over legacy industries. đ¤Š
đĽ Whatâs next? And will you be watching the sequel?
What we accept as true has always been shaped by those in power. Institutions throughout history have decided what ideas are acceptable and which are too dangerous to be allowed. â ď¸
Galileo wasnât charged with heresy because he was wrongâhe was charged because his findings regarding the earth not being the centre of the universe threatened the authority of the church. đ
Fast forward to today, and we see a new kind of enforcement. Platforms label content as "misinformation," governments propose regulations for "harmful speechâ, and fact-checkers determine what is real and what isnât. But who decides, and by what standard? đ¤
The question isnât just whether misinformation existsâitâs who has the authority to define it, and what are the consequences when they get it wrong?
A teenage girl sits on her bed, iPhone propped up on a stack of books. She presses record and starts to singâjust another cover uploaded to YouTube, lost in the endless feed. Years later, that same girl is announced as the new star of The Hunger Games. đ
In the era of traditional media, to capture a celebrityâs rise to fame, you would collect newspaper clippings, moments from rare tv appearances, and quotes from those close to them.
But what if you had access to their most intimate diaryâa visual documentation of exactly how they came to where they are today? đŻ
Enter, the social media generationâtodayâs tribute ...
What happens when AI decides whatâs true? đ¤đ§
For centuries, humans have controlled the flow of truth. But now gatekeeping is shiftingâfrom scholars, journalists and governments ⌠to machines. âď¸
Large Language Models like ChatGPT are becoming the arbiters of informationâand itâs changing everything:
⢠With the rise of the internet, search results became curated by algorithmsânot researchers đ ⢠âTruthâ is now filtered through AI systems that inherit human bias (and create their own) 𧏠⢠Deepfakes are on the riseâundetectable, weaponised, and already influencing public opinion đ¤
Imagine the Lindy Chamberlain case today (âDingo ate my babyâ)âwhere an innocent mother was wrongly convicted largely due to media narratives with no evidence. Now add a convincing deepfake video to the courtroom.
The question is no longer if AI will reshape our understanding of truthâitâs who will control the machines doing it. đ§š
Is truth becoming freerâor more manipulated than ever? 𤯠and what can we do about it?
Parker Floris
Kmart just sold out of their budget Meta smart glasses.
Now Australia is calling to ban them.
Two weeks ago, Kmart released their version of the Meta Ray-Ban. Same covert filming. Quarter of the price.
It sold out in days, and it reignited a debate that had been simmering for months.
The BBC reported that Meta contractors have reviewed footage of âwomen undressingâ and other intimate moments, captured by people who had no idea they were being filmed.
So after Kmartâs launch, Electronic Frontiers Australia is now calling for smart glasses to be banned outright.
This debate feels familiar. We had it with drones a decade ago.
But thereâs a difference. You always knew when a drone was above you. You couldnât miss it, and the footage wasnât quietly reviewed by strangers training an AI model.
Now the camera is invisible and indistinguishable from any other pair of glasses.
In public, you have no expectation of visual privacy, thatâs what security cameras and street photographers rely on. But audio is different. Most places have two-party consent laws that should protect people from having their audio being recorded without their knowledge.
So we need existing laws enforced to this new technology, plus whatever is needed needed to prevent Meta from capturing our most intimate moments.
As a creator, I get the appeal. No more bulky GoPro getting in the way of a shot. There are also huge benefits to visually and audio impaired individuals.
But at the same time, if you no longer know when you are being recorded and your most intimate moments are being broadcast to Metaâs servers ... itâs feeling a little bit too much like Snowdenâs NSA.
1 week ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
Why would a business offer free lessons and coffee to the public?
This was a question I asked myself while learning to ice skate at Alexandra Palace.
Fun fact, this is where the BBC launched the worldâs first TV station, back in 1936.
A normal free skate session costs ÂŁ12, but ...
A 30 minute lesson, hot drink and free skate costs ÂŁ13!!
Why would they give all of this away for free?
Then it hit me.
If you step onto the ice, not knowing what to do, you are going to tumble, bruise up and never come back.
But if you are taught the basics, or even progress into their more advanced groups, you are going to improve, enjoy it, and return regularly.
And the cafe outside? Now itâs looped you into the habit of grabbing a beveragino on the way out.
ÂŁ1 more ... for a lifetime customer.
Best marketing dollar ever spent.
1 week ago | [YT] | 5
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
Who Decides Whatâs Controversial? đ
I was about to buy a jerseyâthen I hesitated.
Not because of the priceâbut because of one logo.
Qatar was everywhere during the 2022 World Cupânot just for football, but for human rights abuses. Migrant worker deaths, LGBTQIA+ persecution, global boycotts. And yet here I was, about to wear their name across my chest.
Then it hit meâwhy does this logo feel like a statement, but a U.S., Aus, or U.K. emblem doesnât? These countries have their own legaciesâwars, colonialism, human rights violations.
Why do some symbols spark outrage while others barely register?
Media doesnât just report the newsâit decides what we care about. Algorithms and ownership shape which stories explode and which fade into obscurity.
So ⌠whoâs really controlling what's 'controversial'? And how much of our morality is shaped by forces we can't see?
Find out in the full article from the Creators Trove newsletter here: www.creatorstrove.com/greenroom/jersey-morality
1 year ago | [YT] | 2
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
Why does culture no longer feel shared? đ
I present âŚ
The first single from an artist's debut album was set to break records ... đ
Racing against time to become the fastest video to reach ONE BILLION views on YouTube.
But, if I were to mention the artist's name to those around me, most would have never heard of her ... đ¤
This is the paradox of modern fame. Someone can be a cultural giant, commanding millions, yet be completely invisible to those outside their niche.
Social media has dismantled the idea of mainstream cultural moments that everyone experiences together.
We now have fragmented digital tribes, each with their own influencers, trends, and conversations. đ
What once lived on the fringes can now dominate an entire ecosystemâwithout ever touching the broader public consciousness.
So:
Who were the gatekeepers of past and present?
What happens when no one shares the same version of reality anymore?
Read the full story from the Creators Trove newsletter here: www.creatorstrove.com/greenroom/mainstream-niches
Or watch the full video below đ
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
A U.S. Senator, Luke Skywalker, and a Bunch of Streamers Walk Into a Livestream... đŽđ
Either the start of a terrible joke, or a hilarious fact. đ
For the Democrats, Bernie Sanders was one of the most prominent figures across the media landscape during the recent election cycle.
At 83 years old, with over four decades of public service, Bernieâs presence in the digital world isnât what youâd expect.
Yet, there he wasâon a livestream with a V-Tuber caricature (Sykkuno), video game streamers (Valkyrae and Pokimane), Twitch host (AustinShow), and even a surprise appearance by Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker).
The result? A bizarre yet fascinating cultural collision. đ¤Ż
While Bernie was often lost on the cultural references of the Millennial streamers, his willingness to engage nonetheless speaks volumes.
He understands that the conversation has moved onlineâand heâs showing up. Even if he probably has someone on his team who actually knows what is going on and the importance of who he is speaking to and their audiences.
Read more stories like this on the Creators Trove website: www.creatorstrove.com/greenroom
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
How MrBeast Took Over London in 1 Night đŤđ
The night before the Sidemen Charity Match, MrBeast had rented out a double-decker bus, wrapped it in Feastables branding, and was touring the city with some of the biggest creators on the planet.
No TV ads. No viral video. Just a loud, mobile spectacle designed for one thing: to own attention. đŁ
And it worked!
Crowds gathered, social media exploded, and fans trekked across the city just for a chance to see it in person. But this isn't just about selling chocolateâit is a blueprint for how creators are breaking into the physical world.
đ The bigger picture?
- MrBeast didnât stop with the busâFeastables was everywhere, from Wembley Stadium banners to sponsoring the YouTube All Stars team.
- More creators are moving beyond digital-first marketingâfrom KSI and Logan's global PRIME launches, to the TimothĂŠe Chalamet look-alike contest in NYC.
- This isnât just about flexing fameâitâs about building trust, delivering value, and cultivating community.
Is this where creator marketing is headed? Are we entering an era where YouTubers turn cities into their playgroundsâleveraging real-world activations to cut through digital saturation?
Drop your thoughts below đ and watch the video where I found the bus. Also, subscribe to Creators Trove to read these stories early www.creatorstrove.com/newsletter
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
From being kicked off YouTube to achieving Hollywood successâthis may just be the craziest career rollercoaster of all time đ
Danny and Michael Philippou or "RackaRacka" achieved early success on YouTube, bringing in over a billion views on their action-packed, overproduced skits.
But as YouTube changed their definition of "advertiser friendly", Danny and Michael could no longer afford to produce their iconic videos.
So, they took a step back, spent a few years writing a feature script, and raised a relatively small sum to produce an indie horror film in their backyard of Adelaide, Australia. đŹ đŚđş
So, how did it turn out?
After premiering at Sundance, A24 (Oscar-sweeping production studio), became their official distributer, and upon release, they grossed nearly $100M from a $4.5M budget!! Becoming A24's second highest grossing film EVER. đ°
Beyond this, what helped the film's explosion was their deep ties to the YouTube community. The brothers were able to feature on countless major podcasts and create viral clips that allowed them to dominate the legacy industry from new media. đď¸
Now, their sequel Bring Her Back is set for May 2025.
The industry is changing. Celebrities are scrambling to break into new media, while creators are proving they can take over legacy industries. đ¤Š
đĽ Whatâs next? And will you be watching the sequel?
Read more stories like this on the Creators Trove website: www.creatorstrove.com/greenroom
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
'Truth' isn't what you think it is đ
What we accept as true has always been shaped by those in power. Institutions throughout history have decided what ideas are acceptable and which are too dangerous to be allowed. â ď¸
Galileo wasnât charged with heresy because he was wrongâhe was charged because his findings regarding the earth not being the centre of the universe threatened the authority of the church. đ
Fast forward to today, and we see a new kind of enforcement. Platforms label content as "misinformation," governments propose regulations for "harmful speechâ, and fact-checkers determine what is real and what isnât. But who decides, and by what standard? đ¤
The question isnât just whether misinformation existsâitâs who has the authority to define it, and what are the consequences when they get it wrong?
Find the answer in the video below đ
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
A teenage girl sits on her bed, iPhone propped up on a stack of books. She presses record and starts to singâjust another cover uploaded to YouTube, lost in the endless feed. Years later, that same girl is announced as the new star of The Hunger Games. đ
In the era of traditional media, to capture a celebrityâs rise to fame, you would collect newspaper clippings, moments from rare tv appearances, and quotes from those close to them.
But what if you had access to their most intimate diaryâa visual documentation of exactly how they came to where they are today? đŻ
Enter, the social media generationâtodayâs tribute ...
Read the debut article from the Creators Trove newsletter here: www.creatorstrove.com/greenroom/how-a-star-is-made
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
Parker Floris
What happens when AI decides whatâs true? đ¤đ§
For centuries, humans have controlled the flow of truth. But now gatekeeping is shiftingâfrom scholars, journalists and governments ⌠to machines. âď¸
Large Language Models like ChatGPT are becoming the arbiters of informationâand itâs changing everything:
⢠With the rise of the internet, search results became curated by algorithmsânot researchers đ
⢠âTruthâ is now filtered through AI systems that inherit human bias (and create their own) đ§Ź
⢠Deepfakes are on the riseâundetectable, weaponised, and already influencing public opinion đ¤
Imagine the Lindy Chamberlain case today (âDingo ate my babyâ)âwhere an innocent mother was wrongly convicted largely due to media narratives with no evidence. Now add a convincing deepfake video to the courtroom.
The question is no longer if AI will reshape our understanding of truthâitâs who will control the machines doing it. đ§š
Is truth becoming freerâor more manipulated than ever? 𤯠and what can we do about it?
Watch the full video belowđ
1 year ago | [YT] | 1
View 0 replies
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