Creators Discuss the Future of Entertainment: The Only Barrier to Entry Is the Upload Button

Content creators Michelle Khare and Hannah Stocking are well aware of the transformative role social media plays in the entertainment industry. During a panel at TheWrap's 2025 Power Women Summit, held by STARZ #TakeTheLead, they discussed how digital content is reshaping audience behavior and challenging traditional media. The event, titled "The New Faces of Entertainment," took place in front of an engaged audience, where moderator Jo Cronk led the conversation.

Khare, who is behind the YouTube series "Challenge Accepted," shared her thoughts on what it means to be a YouTuber today. Reflecting on her own experiences growing up watching traditional TV, she emphasized the new reality where content creators now provide viewers with more accessible alternatives. She pointed out that the only real barrier for creators is simply pressing the "upload" button.

Ive always known that I wanted to be part of a larger storytelling platform, Khare said. I feel incredibly lucky to live in a time where the only thing standing between me and an audience is hitting the upload button. YouTube is now the most-watched platform, according to Nielsen. It has surpassed all other streaming services. What this means is that the content I make, along with the work of other YouTubers, is effectively television content, watched by audiences on their TVs with their families. Im proud to be reshaping the landscape.

Despite using a platform distinct from traditional media, Khare and Stocking emphasized that their productions still require similar resources to those of conventional studios. Stocking, known for her influencer work, highlighted the non-stop nature of her career.

"I post content at least every two days, which means I'm always workingwhether it's the weekend, I'm sick, or the weather is bad," Stocking shared. "Content creation is a full-time job. In a way, we operate like our own media companies. I manage my producer, videographer, and even people who help with prosthetics or costume design depending on what my ideas demand."

Khare agreed, recalling her collaboration on one of the most ambitious projects in her careerrecreating a scene from the movie "Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation," where Tom Cruise is seen hanging from a military aircraft. The stunt required over 50 people and became a major production in its own right.

We coordinated with the FAA, military organizations, and had a full stunt team, Khare said. It felt like a professional movie production, and we even held a screening for it. It was a reminder that when you upload your first piece of content, you immediately become an entrepreneur, running your own production companyeven if it's just for family and friends. You handle everything: production, editing, uploading, and analyzing data, all while learning as you go.

By the end of the discussion, both creators expressed confidence that the digital content field would continue to thrive, with the creator economy paving the way for the future of entertainment.

"The future is all about the creator economy," Stocking concluded.

Author: Ethan Caldwell