"The common thread that runs through these streams is the focus on the person, not necessarily the activity. Without a game taking up visual (and cognitive) space on the screen, the streamer’s personality becomes the main focus."

"OnlyFans’s quarantine blowup seemed inevitable. We’re clawing at the walls, looking for new ways to earn money—and new ways to masturbate."

"The product itself is as simple as it is improbable. Famous people record video shout-outs, aka “Cameos,” that run for a couple of minutes, and then are delivered via text or email."

"As someone putting out content, you might get lots of validation and positive feelings out of it, but that’s true of any work, and people should be compensated for it. There’s an idea that creative labor should be fueled by passion, but in the end, we all need to pay rent and eat."

"Influencers don’t just want fans. They want a cult. They want loyalists willing to do as they command, withstanding the friction of leaving their favorite feed to take actions that benefit their glorious overlords."

"Influencers are an asset to social platforms. They drive engagement, but platforms that hope to retain top creators must help them do one thing well: make money."

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