Welcome to Created, the newsletter that’s more reliable than Starbucks WiFi. Here’s what we got for you:
- Why F1 Racing is cutting off creators
- 17-year-old creator derails train, causes $350K in damages
- Outlier video of the week
F1 Restricts Creators, Causes Uproar
Formula 1 Racing demanded that creators who make content about F1 to remove their brand from their social media and usernames.
Yes, that’s right. F1 is asking creators not to promote F1. As a result:
- Shelovesf1, an F1 influencer, is now shelovesvroomss
- F1R the Girls, an F1 fan podcast, is now Paddock Project
- 44F1, an F1 news channel, is now GP Sports EN
This goes for their drivers, too.
In the past, F1 demanded that star driver Lewis Hamilton stop posting F1 clips to his own social media.
That’s like the NBA suing Steph Curry if he posted his game-winning three on IG. Can you imagine? Speaking of which…
How's This Compare To NBA and NFL?
The NBA allows creators to share game footage and logos on YouTube.
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, said it best: “For the most part, highlights are marketing.”
The NFL also partners with creators to promote the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl, even offering exclusive content to creators to generate buzz.
F1’s Approach? The Opposite.
This is some Quibi-level backwards thinking. By restricting creators, F1 is missing a huge opportunity.
This comment on F1 creator Toni Cowan-Brown’s video sums it up:
“A sport that can’t embrace social media is a sport that will get left behind, I hope F1 reconsiders the road they are starting down.”
Our Take:
I have three words for you: Major League Baseball. Remember that sport?
Well, the MLB lost a lot of relevancy after limiting their stars and fans from sharing game footage on social media as freely as the NBA.
F1 is repeating their mistakes.
Instead, think like the NBA and collaborate with creators to grow the sport. Not shut them down. Same goes for any brand these days.
17-Year-Old Creator Derails Train, Causes $350K In Damages
A Nebraska teenager took the quest for YouTube fame too far by derailing a train — and filming it for his channel.
Now, he’s in serious legal trouble.
Backstory:
- In April, a viral video of a train getting derailed got 625,000 views (it has since been removed from YouTube).
- After months for investigation, the police found the 17-year-old creator behind the derailment.
- Now, he's facing two felony charges for causing $350,000 in damages.
Calculated Catastrophe
The 17-year-old, an avid train enthusiast, filmed the derailment of two trains and five railcars.
He then posted it on YouTube with title “MOST INSANE VIDEO I’VE EVER TAKEN!”.
The footage initially seemed like a freak accident caught on tape until investigators revealed the teen himself had misaligned a rail switch.
He also placed his camera on a tripod moments before the derailment.
The intent was clear: capture a dramatic event on film.
Our Take:
The algorithm can be a hamster wheel. Especially when you’re making sensational videos.
Your audience keeps raising their expectations. In turn, you keep changing your understanding of “normal.”
Until one day, you think de-railing a train is a good idea because you need “more content.”
Sorry, kid. That dopamine rush of views won’t last in jail.
If you’re going to try YouTube, ask yourself how to make your videos sustainably.
I have a video on my channel coming soon that dives deeper into this, stay tuned.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully, they inspire your next one.
- Intriguing connection between elephant and human sparks interest (Vox)
- Bright setting contrasts with alarming ‘TOXIC?’ label (Doctor Mike)
- Matrix-style visuals and hooded woman build intrigue (Swell Entertainment)
- Visual hierarchy of jars sets up an easy-to-follow tutorial (Lifebymikeg)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by daaane has got 569K views though the channel has 7.6K subscribers. That’s 472 times higher than the channel’s average.
Here’s why it took off so you can apply to your next video:
- Unique Insider Insight: Commentary from Dune editor Joe Walker adds authenticity and exclusivity, making it stand out in a crowded field.
- Passionate Deep Dive: The video dissects a specific scene from Dune Part Two with a level of detail that resonates with fans of the movie.
- Sustained Buzz: The video tapped into the ongoing Dune Part Two hype, keeping it relevant and attracting more clicks.
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Why I Switched To ConvertKit
I recently spoke at Craft + Commerce about why I switched our newsletter to ConvertKit.
Beyond sponsoring our newsletter, which has helped support our team, it came down to:
- Creator Network: The referral network makes it much easier to grow just by recommending each other.
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Try it out, ConvertKit is now free to get started.
🏆 The Created Referral Program
Know someone who’d also love this newsletter? Refer them and get gifts.
Refer 1 friend: you’ll get my Infinite Ideas book. It’s my 8 best tips to find viral ideas for your next upload.
Refer 5 friends: you’ll get my Top 50 Thumbnails book. It includes a detailed breakdown of why they work so you improve your packaging.
Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
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– Jon
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