1 Billion Followers Summit announces $1 million prize for content creators

The 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai has announced a $1 million prize to recognize excellence in content creation.

The One Billion Award, the largest of its kind, invites applications through www.1billionsummit.com by Nov. 30. The winner will be revealed during the summit’s closing ceremony on Jan. 13, 2025.

“This initiative reflects our nation’s commitment to supporting meaningful change that uplifts human lives and fulfills people’s aspirations for future prosperity and security,” said UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi.

Applicants are required to submit details about their projects, including their history and core concepts. The award is also open to third-party nominations for content creators who contribute positively to their communities, promoting informative content, social good, and values of care and compassion.

Award criteria and selection process

The summit has outlined eligibility criteria for the award, encouraging applicants to submit content that positively impacts society. The content should have scientific, cultural, humanitarian, or social value, inspire minds, foster unity, support sustainability, and demonstrate compassion and empathy. It must also be original, innovative, and adhere to the standards and policies of social media platforms.

The selection process will begin with a judging panel evaluating submissions from Dec. 1-15, 2024, narrowing down the entries to ten finalists. Public voting will open Dec. 16-31, 2024, allowing the public to vote for their favorite projects. Final votes will be tallied by the judges on Jan. 11-12, 2025, and the winner announced on Jan. 13, 2025.

The One Billion Award will be presented at the summit, which is organized by Dubai’s New Media Academy and will take place from Jan. 11-13, 2025, under the theme “Content for Good.”

Record engagement at 2024 summit

The second edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit in 2024 achieved record engagement, attracting over 7,000 participants, including more than 3,000 content creators from 95 countries. The event generated over 300 million social media interactions and resulted in numerous partnerships between creators and more than 200 production companies.

The summit also featured 195 speakers, including global influencers, who led 15 talks, 24 panel discussions, and over 100 activities that explored trends in digital media and its role in societal development. The summit’s hashtags, #1BillionSummit and its Arabic equivalent, garnered 489 million interactions.

With a goal of reaching over a billion people worldwide, the 1 Billion Followers Summit continues to bring together top global social media influencers across all online platforms.