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YouTube says the secret to success is not their algorithm, its your audience

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Much of the talk at VidCon 2026 focused on how long-form horizontal content is at the forefront of rewiring the traditional Hollywood model. On a panel about convergence , Pocketwatch CEO Chris H. Williams declared, "If it works on YouTube, it'll work anywhere," pointing to The Besties' crossover success on Hulu and, soon, Amazon Fire TV Stick. A recurring topic across panels was how streamers like Hulu, Amazon, and Tubi are recruiting creators, acquiring their YouTube libraries, or funding original content. But what does it take to make a video go viral on YouTube in 2026? That was the question Vidcon attendees had in mind as they sat down for the panel titled Decoding the Algorithm: What Your Audience Actually Wants on YouTube. Presented by YouTube , this three-person panel featured YouTube Creator Liaison and Head of Editorial Rene Ritchie, YouTuber Katarina Mogus, and YouTube Senior Director of Growth and Discovery Todd Beaupré. SEE ALSO: ...

Audity credits her success to her muse and keeping things fun

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Audrey Hopkins (aka Audity or AudityDraws) has grown a fan following by chasing her love of character design and not taking her art too seriously. Her 13.2 million followers on TikTok revel over her imaginative mash-ups, like re-imagining Disney villains as Disney princesses or turning Bluey characters into human incarnations. But her greatest muse has been her husband, Richard Conley . She's drawn him as a merman, Sailor Moon, Handsome Squidward, and many more creative characters. All to the delight of her audience and Conley himself, who collaborated with her on an inspiration app, called Wanna Draw , which generates mash-up ideas for artists of all sorts. As someone who has enjoyed Audity's art, mischievous sense of fun, and high-energy online persona, I was elated to sit down with her at VidCon 2026 to discuss her journey from character designer to a thriving content creator. Audity next to her illustrated...

Uber announces stronger background checks for drivers

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Pressured by recent lawsuits claiming Uber didn't do enough to prevent sexual assault, the ride-sharing company has announced stricter background check requirements for drivers. "After listening to a wide range of feedback, we’ve broadened the criteria for convictions that permanently disqualify someone from driving or delivering with Uber," the company wrote in a recent blog post . "Our goal is to build the safest platform." SEE ALSO: Meta is pushing for social media exclusions in new child safety regulation The new review process expands on existing driver requirements, permanently banning drivers with convictions that "may be sexual in nature." The new rules also disqualify drivers with misdemeanor or felony stalking and strangulation-related offenses because they "can be predictors of future violence," Uber explains. The company says the changes were influenced by recommendation...

The Besties are coming to Amazon Fire this summer

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The Besties have been crushing it on YouTube with 2.98 million subscribers. Their show, which features sleepover-style excitement and spooky stories suitable for kids, is now available on Hulu . And at Vidcon 2026, Mackenzie Turner and Lael Hansen announced a partnership with Amazon Fire that'll put them on that streaming platform by the end of summer. In the panel The Convergence is Here: What Happens When a Creator's Social Content is a Big Streamer's Pipeline?, The Besties were joined by Pocketwatch CEO Chris H. Williams, Global Head of Partnerships at Amazon's Fire TV Channels Dan Green, and NorthStar Media Group producer Ivana Kirkbride, who moderated the session. On the panel, they discussed how a creator like The Besties might move their libraries onto streaming services, with the help of companies like Pocketwatch. Then, in the middle of the panel, Green confirmed The Besties would make their Amazon Fire debut this summer, and Williams concurred, dropping the r...

15+ board game deals to grab before Prime Day ends tonight

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Prime Day isn't over yet. With the sale in its final hours, there are still plenty of deals worth adding to your cart — and they're not all tech deals . If you're looking for something to occupy your time indoors this summer, we've found over 15 board games on sale for up to 45% off. That includes many classics like Candy Land and The Game of Life , as well as cult favorites like Ticket to Ride and Azul . Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite Prime Day board game deals still live . The sale ends tonight at 3 a.m. ET, so be sure to snag these deals as soon as possible. The best Prime Day board game deal Opens in a new window ...

Nothing Phone (4b) announcement incoming — but theres a caveat

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A new Nothing Phone is on the way and you won't have to wait too long to find out more. On Thursday, the British design firm posted a video that ostensibly showcases some teaser images of their upcoming smartphone, Phone (4b). The post, published on X, mentions July 7, all but announcing that's when the official unveiling will take place. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Wondering what the difference is between this Nothing Phone (4b) and the Nothing Phone (4a), currently on sale? Essentially the Phone (4b) will be a more affordable model of the Phone (4a) — just as Google makes the Pixel 10 and the lower-priced Pixel 10a model. The video that Nothing posted does show some design differences between the Nothing Phone (4b) and the Nothing Phone (4a). "Phone (4b) blends a unibody design and clear camera bump of Phone (4a) Pro with the Glyph Bar from Phone (4a) to create a minimal rear design that feels distin...

Game designer Sandy Petersen recalls how Quake's development "broke" id Software

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id Software and GT Interactive released Quake in 1996, marking a significant evolution in the first-person shooter genre just three years after Doom. Sandy Petersen, one of the studio's original designers from the Doom era, said that developing the first "true" 3D FPS took a heavy toll on the team. Read Entire Article from TechSpot https://ift.tt/FQzHYRq via