Today, we'll dive into the intrigue surrounding Elon Musk and the revelation of a secret child with an exec at his brain implant company. We'll also look into TikTok spreading its wings with a new image-sharing app called 'Whee.' For you live-stream enthusiasts, Instagram is rolling out live broadcasts for close friends. Gen Z is shaking things up by ditching Google in favor of Reddit for product searches. And finally, we'll explore how TikTok is evolving to resemble Yelp. Stick around for all this on today's episode of Creator Daily.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is in the news again for his expanding family tree. According to a Bloomberg report, Musk has recently welcomed another child into the world, this time with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain implant company, Neuralink. This isn't the first time the duo has shared parental roles; they previously had twins together, as discovered by Business Insider in court documents released in 2022.
Musk is known for frequently sharing his concerns about what he perceives to be a global depopulation crisis. Reflecting his worry, he reposted a chart suggesting Europe is facing a "fertility crisis" and commented on the potential dire future of civilization.
The tech mogul is no stranger to controversy, with recent reports shedding light on instances of alleged inappropriate conduct and relationships with women at his companies. This includes allegations from a Wall Street Journal report about a sexual relationship with a former SpaceX intern who became an executive, and claims from other employees detailing unwanted advances and requests to bear children.
Moreover, a group of former SpaceX engineers have sued Musk, accusing him of creating a hostile work environment that includes sharing explicit content and disparaging comments about women and the LGBTQ+ community.
The revelation of Musk's latest child with Zilis adds to a total of twelve known offspring from various relationships throughout his life, including those with musician Grimes and others from prior partnerships. Musk has often highlighted his worry about a collapsing birth rate, which he once referred to as "the biggest danger civilization faces" during an interview. His nonprofit organization even donated a significant sum to study the issue further. However, his personal activities and alleged conduct in the workplace continue to spark conversations and stir controversies.

TikTok has introduced a new social app called Whee, which aims to keep friends connected through sharing real-life photos in a private setting. It's an Instagram-like feed but exclusive to a user's close friends, encouraging authentic interactions and personal moments. But this isn't TikTok's first foray into image sharing. Earlier, they launched Notes, another photo sharing platform but with a broader public sharing approach, offering content like travel tips and recipes.
These moves come in the wake of similar successful platforms in the Chinese market, like Xiaohongshu, which integrates eCommerce. TikTok's ventures into image sharing, particularly Whee, might be aimed at capturing trends and enabling private sharing, which could potentially translate into data for ad targeting or tapping into the eCommerce aspect. While some may find the launch peculiar considering the saturated market with established players like Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok is pressing forward, testing the waters to see if users will switch to their new app for sharing visual content.

Hey there, Instagram is making it more personal for you to go live. Starting from today, you have the option to stream live broadcasts exclusively for your Close Friends. What does this mean? Instead of sharing with all your followers or the entire public, you can now select a small group of pals for a more intimate experience.
And here's a fun part: not only can you go live for your Close Cherished Circle, but you can have up to three other accounts join you in this live streaming session. It's like having a private group call but with all the cool features of Instagram Live.
This feature is a big shift from the usual way Instagram Live works, where public accounts could have anyone tuning in and followers could always watch if your account was private. It's been a popular tool for influencers and celebs to interact with a large audience or for fan accounts to stream, say, a live concert. But now, Instagram is offering a more enclosed space for sharing moments—like a personal fashion haul or a quiet study group session without any outside eyes.
Instagram's been nudging us towards more discreet interactions, noting a significant uptick in user engagement with features such as direct messaging. Remember in November when they allowed us to make regular posts viewable only to close friends? Or back in May, when they introduced features to mute all interactions except those from close friends to limit unwanted harassment?
This move is all about creating a cozier, safer environment on the platform. So whether you want to limit your audience for greater privacy or just keep things low-key, Instagram is making sure you can live stream your way. Keep an eye on your app for this new roll-out and get ready to narrow down that audience to just your favs.

A report from Reddit in collaboration with GWI and AmbassCo is pointing to a significant shift in the way Generation Z consumers are finding and researching products online. It turns out that Gen Z is moving away from traditional search engines like Google – where they're less likely to spend time hunting for expert reviews – and turning towards social media platforms for product discovery.
This change, it seems, comes from a frustration with the mobile-friendliness and interface complexity of traditional search platforms. What's more, a marked decline in trust in social media influencers has Gen Zers preferring genuine, community-driven content when considering purchases. They want recommendations from friends, family, and trusted review sites over paid influencer endorsements. These insights suggest that traditional SEO strategies might not be as effective for capturing the attention of younger customers.
Interestingly, the study shows a 36% uptick since 2018 in using social media for finding new brands and products. Businesses, therefore, should consider ensuring their content pops up in social feeds and creates engagement. For brands, this means embracing authenticity, integrating user-generated content, and fostering real conversations within online communities could be key.
As for the role of Reddit, it emerges as the third most trusted source for Gen Z when it comes to looking up products – a status likely bolstered by the fact that Reddit itself produced the report. This trust is attributed to Reddit’s nature as a community-based platform that offers specific, real-feeling answers to user queries. 
Marketers aiming to connect with Gen Z shoppers might need to re-evaluate their strategies. Focusing on building trust through accurate, community-driven content, and considering a stronger presence on platforms that Gen Z perceives as more authentic, such as Reddit, could well be the way forward for brands. This pivot towards catering to the preferences of a younger audience not only acknowledges their distinctive online behavior but enables businesses to engage with the future of the consumer market more effectively.

TikTok is branching out and it's starting to resemble Yelp, especially with its latest feature update. The social media platform, which many of us know as a hotspot for viral videos and trends, has revamped its geolocation tagging system. Now, when you look up locations like Boston, New York, or Texas, you'll find neat categories such as "food & drink," "hotels," and "shopping." These are filled with curated TikTok videos to give you a taste of what each place has to offer.
But here's where it gets really interesting: there's an "explore more places" button that pulls up Apple Maps. It shows you a map marked with businesses that have been featured in those TikTok posts. Plus, you'll find a list of these spots with helpful details like the address, price level, and the number of tags they've got on TikTok. It's a move away from their standard For You page and nudges closer to what you'd expect from Yelp or a travel website.
Although TikTok hasn't officially said much about this freshly unveiled feature, it seems to be a nod to the platform's growing role in driving business to local spots, particularly eateries. Plus, with travel content booming on the app, organizing it all makes perfect sense.
Admittedly, there's a bit of skepticism with the influx of paid influencer content – can you really trust these recommendations? But TikTok is betting on the idea that if you come across these suggestions while scrolling, you might just give them a chance, especially when planning a visit to a new city.
However, it's worth noting that this updated location landing page isn't universal across all tagged locations yet. And while TikTok might not quite be ready to replace Google Search, its influence over where younger demographics choose to dine and visit is increasingly apparent. So next time you're scouting for a place to grab a bite or explore, TikTok's latest additions might just simplify the hunt.

That's a wrap on today's episode of Creator Daily. I'm your host, Michael, and it's been a pleasure to dive into the latest news, discuss the freshest strategies, and explore the emerging trends that are shaping the creator landscape. I hope you found today's show both informative and inspiring as you c