ESHAP and What’s Trending Released Second Creator Map
The annual report ranks top digital creators and industry tools across major platforms.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Pop Culture
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ESHAP and What’s Trending have released the second annual Creator Map, a guide designed to help brands and companies navigate the complex creator economy. The map ranks the top 200 creators across multiple platforms based on follower counts and engagement data.
Why it matters
The map seeks to visualize the vast creator economy, providing a structured tool for creators and brands to understand their standing in an evolving industry. It simplifies market navigation by identifying key players and essential technology tools.
The list features 200 creators ranked by reach and Affinity Quotient scores, which measure engagement via shares and saves. A subset of 100 individuals is highlighted in the Creator Affinity 100 list.
The players
MrBeast
He is the leading content creator identified in the YouTube category of the map.
Cristiano Ronaldo
He holds the top position in the Instagram category for creator influence.
Kai Cenat
He is recognized as the leading creator within the Twitch platform category.
Khaby Lame
He leads the rankings for the TikTok category within the new Creator Map.
Joe Rogan
He is identified as the top-ranked individual in the podcasting category.
The details
Data for the map is powered by the Whalar creator operating system Foam, which calculates engagement scores for talent across ten major social platforms. The directory includes top podcasters, Substack publishers, and the essential technology tools and payment platforms supporting the industry.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: The Creator Map is unveiled at the Jupiter Festival Miami.
Culture Shift
The release of the Creator Map reflects the professionalization of social media influence as a major sector within the broader advertising industry. This shift marks a departure from informal influencer marketing toward data-driven analysis of creator impact.
For creators and aspiring digital entrepreneurs, this map provides a benchmark to understand the metrics that drive professional success. Users can utilize these findings to adjust their own engagement strategies regarding shares and saves on social platforms.
The takeaway
Understanding engagement signals like shares and saves is essential for anyone looking to build a sustainable career as a digital creator. By focusing on these active signals, creators can move beyond passive follower growth to build a more dedicated audience.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in digital influence, visit the Pop Culture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TheWrap.
Live Poll
Do you value a creator's engagement with their audience more than their total follower count?
