Creators Built the Audience, Vylit Wants Them to Own Part of the Platform
The creator economy has spent the past decade teaching millions of people how to build audiences, but the next phase might be teaching them how to build ownership.
Social media promised creators direct access to fans, but they now find themselves navigating algorithms they cannot control, monetization systems that constantly change, and platforms that offer little influence over the decisions that shape their businesses. As creators increasingly think of themselves as entrepreneurs rather than influencers, questions about ownership, equity, and participation are becoming more important.
That shift is part of what attracted reality personality and chef Dominic DeAngelis, model and influencer Cydney Moreau, and entrepreneur and creator Crystal Jackson to Vylit’s newly announced Creator Advisory Board. Rather than simply recruiting creators to use the platform, Vylit is giving select members a voice in product development, community building, creator tools, and real equity shares of the company.
The approach is part of a larger conversation happening in the creator economy. While platforms have traditionally been built for creators, relatively few have been built with them.
“Social media sucks right now. The algorithms are negative, you don’t even see the people you follow anymore, and creators are struggling to find real connections with their fans,” said DeAngelis. “I’m thrilled to be part of a platform that’s doing it differently. Vylit is actually listening to creators and building with us, not just for us.”
DeAngelis, known to audiences from YouTube and Vanderpump Villa, has used the platform to share behind-the-scenes moments and day-to-day content directly with subscribers. For him, the appeal is rebuilding the relationship between creators and audiences at a time when many social platforms prioritize algorithms over community.
Moreau brings a different perspective. The former track athlete turned model and lifestyle creator has built an audience spanning fashion, fitness, and family content while balancing motherhood. The advisory role gives her an opportunity to help shape how future creators experience the platform.
“As someone who is monetizing my content for the first time, knowing that I will have a say in how the platform treats other creators means everything,” Moreau said. “It’s not every day a platform actually wants creators in the room while they’re building it.”
The board’s third founding member, Crystal Jackson, represents the strongest example of the changing creator economy. A former engineer who later became both a creator and entrepreneur, Jackson now co-founded EssentL, a company focused on business infrastructure and benefits for creators. Her experience operating both as talent and as a business builder brings an additional perspective to the group.
“I’ve spent years building an audience and a business across platforms that weren’t built for today’s creator ecosystem,” Jackson said. “What drew me to Vylit is that they’re handing creators actual ownership and a real say in the decisions that affect us.”
The concept of creators receiving equity or ownership opportunities remains relatively uncommon in social media. Most platforms depend on creator participation to drive engagement and revenue, yet the people generating that value rarely participate in the long-term growth of the companies themselves. Vylit’s advisory board attempts to address that imbalance by treating creators as contributors rather than simply users.
The company was co-founded by Ami Gan, the former CEO of OnlyFans, alongside entrepreneur Kailey Magder. Together, they have positioned Vylit as a creator-first subscription platform that sits between traditional social media and direct-to-fan experiences, emphasizing premium content, community building, and audience relationships.
“The users driving value should have a say in the business,” said Gan. “Creators understand culture and digital monetization better than anyone. At Vylit, that expertise earns them a real seat at the table.”
For Magder, the goal is to involve creators before products are fully built rather than after decisions have already been made.
“We didn’t want to build another platform where creators show up after the fact,” she said. “We want them involved from day one, shaping the product, the community and the direction of the business.”
The announcement comes as creators continue to diversify their income streams beyond traditional brand partnerships and advertising. Subscription communities, direct fan relationships, exclusive content, digital products, and ownership opportunities are becoming larger parts of the conversation.
Applications for the Creator Advisory Board are now open, with creators invited to submit their bios and social channels for consideration. The initiative signals a transformation in digital media where creators are no longer simply building audiences on someone else’s platform. Instead, they are beginning to ask a different question: if creators are helping build the future of social media, should they also help own it?
Photo provided by Vylit
