When 20-Somethings Open Up Instagram, They Might See Private Messages From College Classmates, a Bawdy Brother, or a Flirty Crush

Popular social media influencers are increasingly looking overseas to turn their raw videos into addictive content, and not because it's cheaper. When 20-somethings open up Instagram, they might see private messages from college classmates, a bawdy brother, or a flirty crush. Mason Amendola, a 22-year-old creator in Athens, Georgia, regularly notices another cohort: Indian video editors.

"There's a lot of people to choose from, says Amendola, who also runs a content creation agency. "A lot of these people are reaching out to me. They're not hard to find. As video has exploded on social media, English-speaking editors from India and other countries have become the go-to stop for creators hoping to morph raw video into thumb-stopping content.