The White House recently hosted its inaugural Creator Summit, marking a significant moment for creators, influencers, and industry professionals. Projections estimate the creator economy could grow to $500 billion by 2026, and this summit highlighted the importance of acknowledging creators as influential drivers in both the digital and broader economic spheres.

Despite the growing recognition, industry leaders emphasize the need for stronger policy support to tackle the pressing challenges creators face, such as fair compensation, digital rights management, and access to resources that can help sustain their ventures. These professionals are calling on the government to implement measures that not only protect creators but also empower them to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

Here’s a closer look at what industry professionals are advocating for and the specific assistance they believe the government should provide to bolster the creator economy.

Clair Sidman, Marketing Thought Leader – Collective Voice

As more and more creators enter the landscape, there continues to be challenges when it comes to establishing equity when it comes to fair compensation.

It’s crucial to continue to raise awareness around this issue, and it’s encouraging that the administration is taking note of this and other pressing issues that creators are voicing. Creators are more than entrepreneurs; they are the small businesses that are driving our digital economy. It’s time to level the playing field with fair pay and timely compensation for all creators. This isn’t just about content; it’s about nurturing an entire new class of digital small business owners to earn a livable wage.

Victoria Bachan – President, Whalar Talent

Luckily, generations before us have spent decades on building out infrastructures and laws specific to the entertainment industry, but now that the Creator Economy is projected to be a $500 Billion dollar industry by 2026, it is time that we update those and expand its definitions and groups of individuals that it protects.

The perfect example of this is the Coogan law that protects children working in the entertainment industry. For minors providing entertainment services, it is required by the law that 15% of those earnings be put into a trust that is managed under strict investment that cannot be touched until the minor is of legal age to access.

There are a multitude of children that are used in short form social media content and in brand deals who are NOT protected under this law and currently have no legal recourse to funds they are likely owed. It is time for the US government to step in and make it mandatory that those children are protected and their rightful earnings are set aside for their future.

Additionally, it is time that those children are also maxxed out at their ability to perform services during a school work day. While different laws affect different states, it is imperative that we look at those holistically and include children providing services for social media content and brand deals.

Hope Farley, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Producer at Adolescent Content

As a business owner focused on supporting underrepresented creators, the government has a crucial role to play in fostering a more inclusive and thriving creator economy.

This will help the rapidly growing creator economy and foster a sense of trust in the government, which is largely missing among young people today. There are a few key areas in which policy can be used to address the challenges faced by emerging creators, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. 

At Adolescent part of our ethos is mentorship and training for creators. As a black woman and a business owner working in the creative space, I see two key areas where underrepresented people can struggle: access and education.

The minefield that comes with starting a business can be a considerable barrier to entry for young creators looking to truly make an impact, and financial health is not knowledge we are born with. Many creators need help with the business aspects of their work.

Government can help by offering free or low-cost legal clinics specializing in intellectual property and contract law and simplifying the small business operation process. There’s a growing concern about the constantly changing algorithms, which make it increasingly difficult for creators to maintain their income levels. 

The government should step in to ensure a fair playing field in the digital space. Policies focusing on transparent algorithms, protection against content theft and copyright infringement, and fair compensation standards can provide the reassurance and confidence that creators need.

A fund for accessible education programs specifically tailored to aspiring creators who may not have access to traditional art schools or media programs is another area in which the government can assist. Initiatives could include online courses and workshops, partnerships with community centers to create third spaces (informal learning environments outside of home and school), and subsidized short-term intensive programs in art, digital media, and content creation.

Platforms featuring mentor-mentee matching and ongoing education could help emerging creators, and providing tax incentives for businesses that contract with diverse creators might further help in this area. 

Microloans have been helpful in launching businesses in other sectors and we could see a bigger uptick with government assistance there. Low-interest financing options for creator-owned businesses are another opportunity for policy change.

By implementing these policies, the government can play a pivotal role in democratizing the creator economy, ensuring that talented individuals from all backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive in this rapidly evolving sector. This approach not only empowers underrepresented voices but also enriches our cultural landscape and drives innovation, offering a promising future for the creator economy.

Abigayle Parker, Director of Sales and Accounts, The Creator Society

As an operative in the creator industry with expertise in affiliate marketing and talent management, there are several areas where the US government could play a constructive role in supporting the creator economy (which in turn, supports so much of the country’s commerce):

Platform Accountability: There is a vast need for more transparency and accountability from platforms regarding algorithms, content moderation, monetization practices, and platform content rules.

Very often content and accounts will underperform when it’s not consistent with their performance pattern or have content removed and their account docked with little to no resources in resolving issues. Intellectual Property Protection: In a time where we are seeing both AI infiltrate the social networks in content production and an emphasis on NIL in other sectors, a creator’s NIL and intellectual property is invaluable. Creator’s frequently face challenges of copyright infringement.

Strengthening intellectual property laws specific to the creator economy and providing accessible mechanisms for reporting and removing unauthorized use of content would help creators safeguard their work.

Zach Ferraro, Tech x Creator Economy Professional

My view of the government’s role is to make sure there is a level playing field that promotes innovation across industries. When it comes to the creator economy, I think it’s their responsibility to make sure platforms are playing fair with their users as well as each other.

They need to police anti-competitive behavior from large platforms to allow competition from smaller players. Also, when it comes to regulations, they need to strike a balance between protecting users and creating regulatory capture through burdensome responsibilities that only the large incumbent platforms can withstand.

On protecting users, I want to see more recourse for threats made to creators. Most of the female creators I know have stories about credible threats or stalkers impacting their lives. They don’t openly talk about it because it draws more attention and makes the situation worse.

I want to see resources put toward online safety so creators don’t just chalk it up as a normal cost of doing business. One solution is potentially government funding toward an independent moderation resource that platforms can integrate and rely on to streamline the process of protecting users from threats and illegal activities. Not an organization internal to the government, but a non-profit with a government grant.

Ed East, Co-Founder and Group CEO, Billion Dollar Boy

There are 27 million paid creators in the United States and so many more striving and aspiring to become successful content creators.

But, while their life through the screen appears easy and glamorous, Billion Dollar Boy’s recent extensive research, which was inclusive of polling and conducting in-depth interviews with creators, reveals a different reality.

Many creators struggle to build a successful career due to the lack of structural support provided to this growing profession, yet creators drive so many markets in America despite the challenges. As content creation becomes an increasingly professionalized career with significant impact on the national economy, I’m curious to see how the US government will strengthen its relationship with creators and implement policies to support them and their careers.

Loren Piretra, CMO at Fanfix

Policymakers and regulators are now understanding the true impact that creators have on the economy, and creators deserve the same labor protections and employment benefits that are standard in other industries.

I was honored to participate in the first White House Creator Economy Conference, where the creator sector was brought into focus and these issues could be discussed at a national level.

At the same time, the misuse of AI is harming creators, predominantly women, who have been victims of deep fakes that can upend their businesses and lives. While some states have introduced measures to regulate AI in various ways, the weaponization of AI against women requires urgent national attention from the government.

Neal Jean, Co-Founder & CEO at Beacons.ai

In 2019 when we started Beacons, ‘creator economy’ wasn’t even a thing (check Google Trends if you don’t believe me).

In 2024, President Biden was scheduled for 4 minutes but came and talked for 40 minutes about the importance of creators as a channel of communication: ‘You are the future. You are the source of the news.

You are the new possibilities. You’re the new breakthrough in how we communicate.’ It’s exciting to see this level of recognition for work that creators do. What we’ve been working towards at Beacons is becoming more of a reality: creators really are the businesses of the future.

One of the main topics at the conference was AI and how it would impact the creator economy. AI is reshaping many industries, and creators are no exception. There are more questions than answers right now — about content rights, regulation, deepfakes, and more.

Kate Andreeva, Head of Talent Relations at HypeFactory

Often, creators use licensed music, images, or videos from third parties. However, platforms may still consider this a copyright infringement if the creator has not obtained proper permission to use the licensed material.

This often leads to the demonetization of the creator’s content, even when the third-party material was used legally. Additionally, all platforms have different rules regarding copyright, which results in inconsistent information for creators. I believe it’s important to establish a unified understanding of copyright across all platforms and to make the rules for using third-party content in creators’ work more transparent.

Ted Murphy, Founder of Izea

Many creators are essentially small business owners. It would be incredibly beneficial to provide resources and support to help creators manage their businesses, understand their legal obligations, and navigate the digital economy.

The government should also protect creators’ rights, particularly when it comes to issues like copyright and fair compensation. Creators often face challenges in protecting their intellectual property and ensuring they are fairly compensated.

Stronger policies in these areas would help safeguard the interests of creators and contribute to a more sustainable creator economy. By providing clear regulations, supporting education, and protecting creators’ rights, the government can help ensure the industry continues to thrive and evolve to benefit all stakeholders.