There's probably more nuance to it, but I consider someone an influencer if they try to sell me something other than their own product. Such as if they try to sell me their merch, that's still a content creator. Once they take sponsors and try to sell me something else not made by them, then they are an influencer. That's where I usually draw the line.

Narcissism.

If I like them = creator. If I hate them = influencer. Easy as.

Content creator is also a dumb term. Everything is content. We have filmmakers for people who make videos, vloggers for more casual ones, streamers for live video. Writers and bloggers are better words than "content creator"

Wikipedia lists influencer as a synonym for internet celebrity, so I guess just when they become famous.

Unless you take the title literally, then it's whenever they become influential over a statistically significant portion of the population.

Content creator = anyone capable of making anything.

Influencer = peddler, shill.

Content creator == posts stuff online

Influencer == makes it their personality. Tends to be better at self-aggrandizement

I'm a content creator. I do influence people in a way. But since I'm light-years away from being able to live from that, and I won't sell Squarespace or shit like that on my show, I guess I'm not an influencer really.

Once a content creators content could infuence their viewers purchasing decisions.

Jay of Jayztwocents hates the term influencer, because (and I'm heavily paraphrasing) thats what the marketing people refer to content creators as. He does have influence as a content creator but the difference to him is that his "influence" is that his content is honest reviews and opinions. If his influence is that he tells you its shit and dont buy it. So be it, the company needs to make a better product.

It's unlikely that there is consensus on where the line that separates them is, but to me influencers are showing their overall lifestyle (day in the life, vlogging, sharing their meals, routines, that kind of thing) and content creators are primarily generating something else that is not necessarily dependent on their lifestyle. I see it as educational content, creative content (arts, DIY, movie commentary, etc) news... I know content creators often expand into what I described as "influencer content", but that is often not their primary way of getting followers or focus of their attention, so I still think they are content creators.

ChatGPT's answer is on point:

A content creator is someone who produces and shares content online, such as videos, blog posts, or social media posts. An influencer, on the other hand, is a person who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority. knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. While content creators may also be influencers, not all influencers are content creators. Some influencers may simply share their opinions or experiences with their audience to influence their decisions.

number of followers

A large enough audience. Depends on the platform. Usually around 10000+.

If enough influential people call them an influencer, then they become an influencer.

Nothing. They call themselves influencers because it’s a trendy buzzword.

I'm pretty sure that just being big enough to have some influence makes them an influencer. Most names I hear about are definitely influencers by the time I hear about them.

If what they're doing is perceived to be good, they're a content creator, and if it's seen as something negative, they're an influencer.

'Influencer' is the business side word for content creators, because that's how companies see them. Content creators are able to influence the thoughts and buying decisions of their audience.

Influencer - asking for free shit or to be comped because of who they say they are.

Money

I guess all content creators are influencers to some degree. Personally, I feel the word influencer doesn't apply to people I follow. Yet this may be because of me; I find it that ads really don't work on me. And I don't worship internet content creators like some people do.