8 Million Views Later: The Reality Behind TikTok Success

In this episode, we sit down with Kayla Fitch, Director of Social Media at Bennett Creative and a former TikTok influencer who experienced the platform’s early gold rush—millions of views, Creator Fund payouts, and brand deals—before watching influencer income and momentum slowly disappear.Kayla explains why TikTok’s Creator Fund stopped paying, where influencer money actually comes from, and why views alone don’t translate to long-term income. We also explore the mental health cost of influencer culture, including burnout, social media addiction, scripted authenticity, and relationship strain.After stepping away from being in front of the camera, Kayla transitioned into Directing Social Media at Bennett, helping brands and creators grow sustainably instead of chasing viral highs.Learn more at bennettcreative.co