By Mashable | Created at 2026-10-02 19:06:57 | Updated at 2026-10-03 21:51:31
1 day ago
Mashable 101: The creators shaping the internet in 2026
By
Crystal Bell
Digital Culture Editor
Crystal Bell is the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where she leads coverage of the creator economy, internet culture, and digital life. Her work focuses on the people, platforms, and communities shaping modern entertainment, from YouTube creators and livestreamers to fandoms, social media trends, and the evolving relationship between technology and culture. She also oversees the Mashable 101, the publication's annual list recognizing the internet's most influential creators.
on October 2, 2026
Ian Moore/Mashable/Getty Images Credit: Ian Moore/Mashable/Lauren Helfert Photography
Editor's note (Oct. 2, 2026): Brooke Eby died at age 37 following her diagnosis with ALS, the ALS Network announced on Oct. 1. Eby, who posted under the name LimpBroozkit, began documenting her experience with the terminal neurodegenerative disease on TikTok in 2022, using humor and candor to educate hundreds of thousands of followers about ALS and build community among people living with the disease.
"Levity is my superpower," Eby told Today in 2023, an ethos that defined much of her content even as her condition progressed. She later founded ALStogether, a nonprofit connecting people diagnosed with ALS with resources, experts, caregivers, and one another. In a 2025 essay for People, Eby reflected on the lasting purpose of documenting her illness online: "My TikTok presence will live on after I die. I hope it serves as a visual diary for anyone who gets diagnosed and needs a guide."
Brooke Eby has built a deeply engaged following by documenting her life with ALS with humor, honesty, and a distinct point of view. Based in the Washington, DC area, Eby shares updates about her diagnosis and daily life with a tone that balances levity with reality.
Across TikTok and Instagram, she's amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, drawn to her willingness to speak openly about disability, healthcare, and identity. Her posts often mix candid reflections with humor, creating a space that feels both personal and communal.
Mashable Trend Report
Eby's platform has continued to grow as conversations around chronic illness and accessibility have gained more visibility online. Her content resonates not just with those directly affected by similar diagnoses, but with a broader audience seeking more honest depictions of life with illness.
That openness has turned her account into more than a personal diary. In the comments, followers share their own experiences, transforming her page into a space for connection and support.
Eby’s presence reflects a broader shift in how people use social media — not just for entertainment, but for understanding.
This article was originally published on June 2, 2026, and has been updated to reflect the news of Brooke Eby's death.
Crystal Bell is the Digital Culture Editor at Mashable, where she leads coverage of the creator economy, internet culture, and digital life. Her work focuses on the people, platforms, and communities shaping modern entertainment, from YouTube creators and livestreamers to fandoms, social media trends, and the evolving relationship between technology and culture. She also oversees the Mashable 101, the publication's annual list recognizing the internet's most influential creators.
Previously, she was the entertainment director at MTV News, where she helped expand the brand's coverage of fan culture, K-pop, and the internet's most passionate communities. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, PAPER, NYLON, ELLE, Glamour, NME, W, The FADER, and elsewhere on the internet.
She's exceptionally fluent in fandom and will gladly make you a K-pop playlist and/or provide anime recommendations upon request. Crystal lives in New York City with her two black cats, Howl and Sophie.
