The Rise of the Friend-Curator

According to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025, traditional outlets keep losing ground: 44% of 18 to 24-year-olds now say social or video networks are their main news source, versus only 20% of people 55+. Globally, a third of internet users lean on Facebook (36%) and YouTube (30%) for weekly news.

When almost half of all respondents (47%) also view “online influencers and personalities” as the biggest source of potential misinformation, a trusted human filter suddenly matters. That filter can be, and probably is, you.

Capture and Distribute: Launch a Tight Newsletter

A newsletter is the simplest container for curated insight. Pick a lane (AI tools, freelancer gigs, local culture), promise one clear takeaway per day or week, and ship. Your structure can be as light as:

• Headline in 10 words

• Why this matters in 2 sentences

• Action link / deeper dive

Your first 50 subscribers are probably in your phone already. DM them a signup link and promise them time saved.

Monetize Your Curation

Affiliate links. Recommend products you already love and earn a cut—software, books, gear, even courses.

Sponsorship slots. Once you hit a few hundred engaged readers, brands will pay for placement inside a trusted niche newsletter.

Premium tiers. Offer “first-to-know” alerts, private Q&A calls, or deeper research for a monthly fee. People pay to skip the scroll.

Track the Numbers - What Gets Tracked Grows

Create a simple dashboard or spreadsheet that logs:

• List size and % week-over-week growth

• Open and click-through rates

• Revenue per send (affiliate + sponsors)

• Best-performing topic categories

When you see spikes, double down. When topics flop, cut them. Curation is a service business; metrics tell you how well you’re serving.

Stay Trustworthy, Stay Paid

Your advantage is credibility, so guard it:

1. Verify before you amplify. Link to original sources or multiple reputable outlets.

2. Disclose incentives. If you earn via an affiliate or sponsorship, say so. Transparency keeps readers around.

3. Add quick fact-checks. A one-sentence note on what you confirmed (or debunked) builds loyalty.

Final Thought

Curation isn’t lazy, it’s leadership in an information-overloaded world. If your friends already rely on you for the best links, elevate the habit: give it a home, track the impact, and let it pay you back.

Entrepreneur Toolkit: Tools to Power Your Business

Beehiiv – Spin up a professional newsletter with built-in referral and ad tools, perfect for fast list growth and early monetization.

SparkLoop – Layer viral loops and partner programs onto your list so readers help you recruit new readers—automatically.

ConvertKit Commerce – Sell paid subscriptions or one-off digital products straight from your email platform without extra checkout tools.

Built Not Hired is built for the modern creator, freelancers, solopreneurs, and builders who want freedom and ownership. If that’s you, pick one idea and run with it.