Creator Economy Revenue Share & Fee Fairness Study

Welcome! You are invited to participate in a research study about how content creators experience revenue sharing and platform fees. This survey takes approximately 14 minutes. Your participation is completely voluntary and you may stop at any time. There are no right or wrong answers — we are interested in your honest opinions. All responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate. Your individual answers will not be shared with any platform or third party. By continuing, you agree to participate in this study.

Do you currently create content (e.g., video, audio, writing, streaming) for an audience?

• Yes, at least monthly
• Yes, but less than monthly
• No, I do not create content

Which platform is your primary channel for audience and/or monetization? If you use multiple, pick the one where you earn the most or have the largest audience.

• YouTube
• TikTok
• Instagram
• Twitch
• X/Twitter
• Facebook
• Patreon / Memberships
• Substack / Newsletter
• Podcasts (Spotify/Apple/etc.)
• Blogs / Own website
• Stock media marketplaces
• Other (please specify)

Overall, how fair is the revenue share you receive (or expect to receive) from your primary platform?

Thinking about the fees your platform charges (e.g., service, transaction, payout fees), how reasonable do you find them?

My primary platform clearly explains how fees and deductions are calculated.

In a fair revenue-share scenario, rank the following from who should receive the largest share (1) to the smallest share of total content revenue.

1. The creator
2. The platform (hosting, discovery, tools)
3. Payment processing
4. Content moderation and trust & safety
5. Audience growth and promotion

Based on your responses throughout this survey, please share any additional thoughts or feelings about platform revenue sharing, fees, or creator monetization in general.

What is your age?

• 18–24
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65+
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for completing this survey — your insights will help improve how platforms support creators. Your responses are confidential and will be reported in aggregate only.

Which best describes your current monetization situation?

• I currently monetize my content
• I plan to monetize in the next 12 months
• I do not plan to monetize

Roughly how large is your audience on your main platform (followers/subscribers)?

• Fewer than 1,000
• 1,000–9,999
• 10,000–49,999
• 50,000–199,999
• 200,000–999,999
• 1,000,000+

How would you describe your experience with your platform's revenue-share structure? Please share any specific positives or concerns.

Which of the following platform fee types feel reasonable to you when clearly disclosed? Select all that apply.

• Payment processing fees
• Platform service/hosting fee
• Ad revenue share (platform's cut)
• Tips/donations processing cut
• Subscription/membership fee
• Withdrawal/payout fee
• None of these
• Other (please specify)

I receive payouts from my platform on a predictable and reliable schedule.

Rank the following platform improvements from most important (1) to least important for you as a creator.

1. Higher creator revenue share
2. Lower or capped fees
3. Transparent fee disclosures
4. Predictable, on-time payouts
5. Better growth and analytics tools
6. Responsive creator support

How do you describe your gender?

• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Prefer not to say

Thank you for your interest. This study focuses on active or aspiring content creators, so the survey ends here for you. We appreciate your time!

To the best of your knowledge, approximately what percentage of your content revenue does your primary platform keep?

• I don't know
• Less than 10%
• 10–19%
• 20–29%
• 30–39%
• 40–49%
• 50% or more

The fees my platform charges are reasonable relative to the value it provides (hosting, discovery, tools).

If you could make one change to how platforms handle fees and revenue sharing, what would it be?

Where do you primarily reside?

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• Latin America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• North America
• Oceania
• Prefer not to say

Which best describes your current work situation?

• Full-time creator
• Part-time creator with other job
• Employed (not creator)
• Self-employed (not creator)
• Student
• Not employed
• Prefer not to say

What is your approximate monthly income from creating content (before taxes), in USD or local equivalent?

• None
• Less than $100
• $100–$499
• $500–$1,999
• $2,000–$4,999
• $5,000+
• Prefer not to say