Why These YouTubers Un-Retired

Welcome to Created, the newsletter that helps you slice through creator news like Fruit Ninja. Here’s what we got for you:

• Why this YouTuber un-retired after 7 years
• TikTok faces massive change after "Blackout Challenge" tragedy
• Weekly roundup of top YouTube thumbnails

Why These YouTubers Un-Retired After 7 Years

7 years after leaving YouTube, Every Frame a Painting is back.

The channel, known for in-depth film analysis, surprised fans with an upload last week.

So why did they return? And why does it matter?

Backstory:

• 2014: Tony Zhou and Taylor Ramos started Every Frame a Painting, creating video essays that grew to 2M+ subscribers.
• 2017: Zhou and Ramos stopped uploading to focus on their jobs and personal projects.
• 2024: The duo returns with a limited series of video essays and short film called The Second.

Numbers: Their recent uploads got 616K views. Not quite the millions of views per video they got at its peak. But still impressive after a 7-year break.

Why It Matters:

Just because a channel is dormant doesn’t mean it's dead.

In a year when creators like Tom Scott and Seth Everman left YouTube, this comeback proves that stepping away doesn’t mean losing your channel.

Creators can take breaks and come back on their own terms.

But only if they built a strong brand. I mean, this comment on their recent video sums it up:

“I literally have full-body goosebumps. I feel like Rafiki discovering Simba's alive after so many years. "He's alive? He's AlIVE! The King has returned!"

TikTok Faces Changes After "Blackout Challenge" Tragedy

A recent U.S. Appeals Court decision has TikTok on the ropes...and it could how social media platforms are regulated and what you see on your feed.

Backstory:

• 2021: 10-year-old Nylah Anderson died after trying the viral TikTok “blackout challenge,” where users hold their breath until they pass out.
• 2022: Nylah’s mother tried to sue but ran into trouble with Section 230 which protects platforms from being held liable for what users post.
• Now: An appeals court ruled that the lawsuit can move forward, arguing TikTok's algorithm is making choices more like a newspaper editor, which Section 230 does not protect.

Quote: “Nylah likely had no idea what she was doing...but TikTok knew that Nylah would watch because the company’s customized algorithm placed the videos on her ‘For You Page,'” wrote Judge Paul Matey.

Why It Matters:

This ruling could mean massive changes in how social media is regulated.

If the courts rule against TikTok, it could lead to tighter controls on what shows up in our main feeds — arguably making things safer albeit less engaging.

As Nylah's lawyer said: "Big Tech just lost its 'get-out-of-jail-free card.'"

?? Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails

Here's why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully they inspire your next one.

1. Perfectly realistic MrBeast mask pulls you in (finzar)
2. Simple yet powerful text makes the toy gun feel extreme (Mike Shake)
3. Obvious growth in greenery sells the change (Andrew Millison)
4. Powerful expression of raw emotion stops your scroll (StudioBinder)

?? Outlier of the Week

This video by Ella Daily Life has got 1.6M views though the channel has 58K subscribers. That’s 137 times higher than the channel’s average.

Here's why it took off so you can apply to your next video:

1. Not The Norm: The video isn’t edited down for high retention — instead, it's a slow-paced 3+ hour video of Ella harvesting honey and other goods and taking it to the market.
2. Silent Storytelling: Without a single word, Ella fills the video with stunning shots of her daily life, perfectly blended with ambient sounds.
3. Oddly Soothing: There’s something calming about watching 3+ hours of Ella’s mundane cooking and selling tasks. The slow, everyday rhythm feels like a meditation.

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After all, nothing great is created alone. Talk soon,

Jon