What is a digital creator (and what does it mean on Facebook)?

Last updated · by Buse Dülger

On Facebook and Instagram, 'Digital creator' is a category label shown on profiles switched to professional mode or a creator account. It adds insights, public followers and, for eligible accounts, monetisation. It does not add a list of profile visitors. More broadly, a digital creator is anyone who publishes original online content for an audience.

What does 'digital creator' mean on Facebook?

'Digital creator' on Facebook means the person has switched on professional mode (Meta now calls it pro mode), and the category label shows under their name. You choose the label yourself. It is not a verification badge or a job title, and it doesn't prove someone earns money. It sits on an ordinary personal profile, not on a separate Page.

According to Meta's pro mode help page, switching on adds professional tools to the profile you already have. You don't create a new profile, and your friends and past posts stay as they were. Your 'Who can follow me' setting changes to Public, so people who aren't your friends can follow you. You also get content and audience insights, Moderation Assist and, if you're eligible, access to monetisation products.

'Digital creator' is the general creator category, so most profiles show it after switching on pro mode. You can usually swap it for something more specific, such as artist, blogger or musician, by editing your profile details. Menu names change between app versions, so look for the category field when you edit your profile intro.

What is a content creator and what do they do

How is a Facebook creator profile different from a business Page?

A creator profile is your personal Facebook profile with pro mode switched on. A Page is a separate presence built for a brand, organisation or public figure. With pro mode you keep one identity, one friends list and one login, and add followers and creator tools on top. A Page starts from zero, has followers but no friends list, and admin access can be shared with a team.

Instagram works in a similar way. Professional accounts come in two types, creator and business. The Instagram Help Centre notes that the category you pick does not decide which of the two you set up. Creator accounts suit individuals. Business accounts suit retailers, local businesses, brands and service providers. On either type, you can show or hide the category label from 'Edit profile'.

Creator profile (Facebook pro mode)

Best for individuals who already post from a personal profile and want followers, insights and monetisation without starting again. Friends and family stay connected, and you decide for each post whether it is public or friends-only. You can switch pro mode off at any time, but followers who aren't your friends are removed when you do.

Facebook Page

Best for a brand, shop, band or creator who wants a presence fully separate from their personal life. A Page has followers rather than friends. It suits teams, because several people can manage it without anyone handing over a personal login. A founder-led skincare or supplement label usually needs a Page for the brand as well as a personal profile.

Instagram creator account

Built for individual creators, public figures and influencers. You pick a category such as 'Digital creator', can hide the label from your profile, and get insights on reach and follower growth. If the account is linked to a Facebook Page, the category label matches that Page's category, so update the Page first if the two disagree.

Instagram business account

Built for retailers, brands, local businesses and service providers that need contact buttons, shop features and advertising tools. A one-person fashion or beauty label often starts here for the brand handle. The founder may still use a creator account on their personal handle if they are the face of the brand.

How do you become a digital creator on Facebook?

You become a digital creator on Facebook by switching on pro mode from your own profile. There is no application form and no approval step. Meta's help page gives the route: go to your profile, tap 'Options' (the three dots below your cover photo), choose 'Turn on pro mode', then tap 'Turn on' and finish the steps. If you can't see the option, update the app and check that you are on your personal profile, not a Page.

So can anyone be a digital creator on Facebook? Broadly, yes. The label describes how you use your profile, not how big your audience is. Money is the part with conditions: monetisation tools depend on eligibility, and Facebook's main earning programme is currently invite-only.

1. Switch on pro mode

Go to your profile, tap the three dots or 'Options' below your cover photo, choose 'Turn on pro mode' and confirm. Your friends and old posts don't change. Check your follower setting afterwards: it moves to Public, so decide whether any older posts should be set to friends-only before new followers arrive.

2. Set your category and bio

Keep 'Digital creator' or choose a narrower category that fits your niche, such as beauty, fitness or food. Write a one-line bio that says who your content is for, and add a contact email. That way brands and collaborators can reach you without messaging your personal inbox.

3. Post publicly and consistently

Pro mode only helps if people can find your posts. Publish Reels, photos and Stories publicly on a steady schedule, and use the professional dashboard to see which formats bring in followers. Make your own original content: Facebook's payouts now favour original posts that hold attention and earn qualified views.

4. Express interest in monetisation

In the professional dashboard, open the Monetization tab and choose Content Monetization to fill in the interest form. Invitations only come through official channels, such as the Facebook app, email, Meta Business Suite or the dashboard itself. Ignore direct messages that offer paid 'creator access' or verification.

Can digital creators on Facebook see who views their profile?

No. Digital creators can't see who views their Facebook profile, and neither can anyone else. Facebook's Help Centre states that it does not let people track who views their profile or posts, and that third-party apps can't do it either. Any app or link that promises a list of profile visitors is a scam and worth reporting.

Pro mode changes what you can measure, not who you can identify. The professional dashboard shows totals for reach, views and follower growth, with no names attached. That is enough to judge which posts work, which is what matters when you start pitching brands.

Stories: the one exception

You can see who viewed your Facebook Story, and only you can see that list. Friends tend to appear first. If the Story is public, the list can include friends, followers and some people who don't follow you. Some people who only previewed it are grouped as 'others', without names.

Instagram works the same way

Instagram creator accounts get reach and audience insights but no list of profile visitors. As on Facebook, the account owner can see a list of who viewed each Story. That makes Stories the most reliable sign of which followers are paying close attention to your content day to day.

Looking at someone else's profile

Because there is no visitor tracking, viewing a digital creator's profile doesn't notify them, however often you look. Some actions do leave a visible trace: reacting, commenting, following, sharing or watching their Story. Keep that in mind when you research creators you might work with.

Do digital creators on Facebook get paid?

Some do. The label itself pays nothing, but it gives eligible creators access to Facebook's monetisation programmes. Meta says Facebook paid creators nearly $3 billion through these programmes in 2025, its highest annual total. 60% went to reels and the rest to Stories, photos and text posts.

Being a digital creator on Facebook gives you two things: tools, such as insights, public followers and moderation, and routes to earning once you qualify. Platform payouts and brand partnerships are separate income streams, and many creators use both.

Facebook Content Monetization

Facebook's main programme pays for how your Reels, longer videos, photos, text posts and Stories perform, all in one place. It is invite-only for now, and you can register interest through the Monetization tab in your professional dashboard. An 'Earnings Rate' metric shows roughly what you earn per 1,000 qualified views of your own content.

Creator Fast Track

Aimed at established creators who are new or returning to Facebook. If you have at least 100,000 followers on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, you can earn $1,000 a month, or $3,000 with over a million. The guaranteed pay lasts three months, for eligible reels, and comes with immediate access to Content Monetization.

Stars and subscriptions

Fans can buy Stars and send them during your videos and live streams. Eligible creators can also offer paid subscriptions with content only subscribers can see. Both depend on a loyal, engaged audience more than a large follower count, so they suit niche creators who post and go live regularly.

Brand and affiliate deals

Brands pay creators directly for sponsored posts, reviews and content the brand can reuse. Affiliate links pay you a commission on sales. Both sit outside Facebook's own payouts, so you agree terms with the brand. Both also need clear ad disclosure, including when the only payment is free product.

How do content creators and influencers make money

What Facebook pays its creators

  • ~$3bn Paid to Facebook creators through monetisation programmes in 2025, the platform's highest annual total.
  • 35% Year-on-year increase in Facebook creator payouts, showing the programmes are growing.
  • 60% Share of payouts that went to reels; Stories, photos and text posts earned the rest.
  • 30%+ Year-on-year growth in the number of creators earning over $10,000 a year on Facebook.

Source: Meta Newsroom, Creator Fast Track announcement, 2026

What is a digital creator, beyond the Facebook label?

A digital creator is a person who makes original content for online audiences and publishes it on platforms where they build a following. That content might be videos, photos, written posts, podcasts, newsletters or courses. Day to day, a digital creator plans ideas, films or writes, edits, posts, replies to comments and checks analytics. Full-time creators also pitch brands, send invoices and manage how their content can be reused.

The term covers hobbyists and full-time professionals alike. What they share is that the content is their own, published under their name, for an audience that chooses to follow them. The platform shapes the format, as the examples below show.

Instagram and Facebook creators

Mix Reels, carousels and Stories, often in visual niches such as beauty, fashion, food and home. Most use a creator account on Instagram or pro mode on Facebook to get insights and the category label. Many post the same content to both apps to reach two audiences with one piece of work.

TikTok creators

Build around short, fast-paced vertical video, trends and sounds, often posting several times a day. Common ways to earn include brand partnerships and, where TikTok Shop runs, affiliate commission on products shown in their videos. Strong hooks in the first seconds matter more here than polished production.

YouTube creators

Focus on longer, searchable videos such as tutorials, reviews and vlogs, often alongside Shorts. Because viewers find videos through search, older uploads keep getting views for months. That suits detailed content like beauty routines, supplement explainers and styling guides, which people look up when they are close to buying.

Writers, podcasters and educators

Publish newsletters, blogs, podcasts or courses. Their work relies less on visuals and more on expertise and a direct relationship with subscribers. They often earn through memberships, sponsorship slots or paid products. Many still keep a Facebook or Instagram creator profile to share clips and send readers to their main channel.

What is an influencer? Definition, types and how it works

Is a digital creator the same as a content creator?

Mostly, yes. 'Digital creator' and 'content creator' describe the same work, and the difference is largely one of labelling. 'Digital creator' is the name Meta uses for a profile category, while 'content creator' is the broader industry term. An influencer is a creator whose main value to brands is the trust of an engaged audience. Not every creator wants to work that way, and many never do.

Digital creator

A profile category on Facebook and Instagram that the account owner picks. It tells visitors that this person publishes original content in public and is open to professional activity. It says nothing about audience size, income or verification, and you can change or hide it whenever you like.

Content creator

The general term for anyone who produces content for an audience, on any platform. It includes people who post for their own following and UGC creators, who make videos and photos for brands to publish on the brand's own channels rather than on the creator's profile.

Influencer

A creator whose audience trusts their recommendations, which is the main thing brands pay for. Influence shows in engagement, comments and how closely the audience matches the brand's customers, not just in follower numbers. Small accounts with a loyal niche following can be valuable influencers.

What is a content creator and what do they do

What should you set up once your profile says digital creator?

Once your profile says digital creator, set it up so audiences and brands can work with you. You need a clear niche, a contact route, a few public posts that show your best work and a plan for disclosing paid content. The label tells visitors you are open to professional activity, and your profile has to back that up.

If you take paid, gifted or affiliate work, label it. The ASA's influencers' guide sets out how UK creators must make clear that ads are ads, which in practice means putting 'Ad' up front. In the US, free or discounted products count as a material connection with the brand, so gifted posts still need a clear '#ad'.

If you're looking for brand work in beauty, skincare, supplements, fashion, lifestyle, or food and drink, #Collabz is a London-based marketplace where vetted creators apply to briefs from UK and US DTC brands.

Profile checklist

Choose a specific category, write a bio that names your niche and audience, and add a work email. Pin or feature two or three posts that show what a brand would get from you: a product demo, a tutorial and a short review make a well-rounded set.

Disclosure habits

Put 'Ad' (UK) or '#ad' (US) at the start of any post you were paid for, sent free product for or earn commission from. Hiding the label in hashtags or below the 'more' cut-off doesn't count, and the platform's paid-partnership tag alone may not be enough.

How do content creators and influencers make money

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Why does my Facebook profile say 'Digital creator'?

Your profile says 'Digital creator' because pro mode (formerly professional mode) is switched on and that is the category set for your profile. People sometimes turn it on by accident while exploring the profile menu. You can change the category, or switch pro mode off from the 'Options' menu on your profile.

What does it mean if a friend's Facebook says 'Digital creator'?

It means your friend has switched their personal profile to pro mode, usually to post publicly, gain followers or use creator tools. It isn't a verification badge and says nothing about their income or follower count. Your friendship and their past posts are not affected.

Can I see how many people viewed my digital creator profile?

You can see totals, such as reach, views and follower growth, in the professional dashboard, but not the names of people who visited your profile. The only list of named viewers is for your Stories. Apps that claim to show profile visitors don't work and can put your account at risk.

What is a digital creator on Instagram?

On Instagram, 'Digital creator' is a category label you can choose when you switch to a professional creator account. It appears under your name, and you can hide it from 'Edit profile'. As on Facebook, it is a description you pick yourself, not a status Instagram awards.

How do I turn on digital creator on Facebook?

Open your profile, tap 'Options' or the three dots below your cover photo, choose 'Turn on pro mode' and confirm. 'Digital creator' usually appears as your category unless you choose a different one. If you can't see the option, update the app and check you are on your personal profile, not a Page.

How do I remove 'Digital creator' from my Facebook profile?

Switch pro mode off from the same 'Options' menu on your profile. Your friends and posts stay, but your follow setting goes back to Friends and you lose followers who aren't your friends. If you only dislike the wording, change the category instead of turning pro mode off.

Does 'digital creator' mean AI?

No. 'Digital creator' means a person who publishes original content online, and on Facebook and Instagram it is simply a profile category. It doesn't mean the content is made with AI, although some creators use AI tools for editing.