Online content creators and influencers from TikTok, Instagram and other online content creators can now join Youtubers under Hollywood’s top union SAG-AFTRA’s “Influencer Agreement”.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will allow those that earn money through advertising on social media to reap the same benefits as A-list actors!

Gabrielle Carteris, president of SAG-AFTRA, tells Backstage. “We want to be able to support both current and future SAG-AFTRA members in this space and for them to be able to access the benefits of union coverage.” The Influencer Agreement was created in response to the unique nature of Influencer-generated branded content and offers a new way for influencers to work under a SAG-AFTRA agreement.

The benefits for such members include better opportunities and protection when working in the industry, plus – in many cases can also include health and pension plans. According to SAG-AFTRA’s website, the union already represents around 160,000 performers and media professionals.

So, how does an online content creator qualify to join Hollywood’s biggest union as an influencer?

The new Influencer Agreement defines “influencer-generated branded content” as advertising, and this has to be produced by the influencers, and distributed on their personal platform in video or audio form. This could include as little as a short TikTok clip or Instagram story, and according to the New York Times, there’s also no minimum follower count. The agreement doesn’t cover still imagery, or ad campaigns created for a company, which are covered under a different agreement.