User Generated Content and “Being Out of Touch”
After some 18 years, this morning I got a notice that the only user-generated-content site I still belong to (outside of Hive) — and that pays contributors for content — is moving to a non-rewards system, as of April 14th.
Technically speaking, I have to admit that it is not a great ”loss” — at least in the financial sense — although it was definitely nice to see the occasional $50 royalty deposits into my PayPal account.
In a somewhat stark contrast to Hive, a large number of these 40 articles have been viewed more than 10,000 times, with some having been read 50,000 times or more.
The actual loss is really more a case of lost visibility than anything... perhaps part of a greater trend that you either have to be ”somebody,” or you are invisible. There is no middle ground.
On a greater level, this development is also symbolic of the persistent and uncomfortable reality that 99.999% of content on the web actually has no monetary value whatsoever,” regardless of what we might want to tell ourselves to the contrary.
To be objective about it, a poorly framed picture of your breakfast taco doesn't add anything to the data stream, just to your stomach.
That’s not a statement meant to reflect the cries of those who squeal ”why can’t I make any money on Hive?” here in our own community. It’s a broader truth.
Just like — in the old days — when we used to submit magazine articles for publications, there would be one accepted article (that might earn the writer $100) for every 500 rejections.
Bottom line: Your stuff is worthless, and you’re not owed jack shit!
We like to talk about how "Facebook/Meta is making BILLIONS from people's posts!" but when you divide Meta revenue by number of active users, you end up with something on the order of $20-$25 per active user, per year.
We're only talking about billions because there are billions of users.
But the announcement was also a reminder that I am (evidently) completely out of touch with what content consumers care about.
In the course of the past decade or so, I have received numerous ”requests” to update/revise my old articles to fit the desirable ”editorial standards” of aforesaid publishing venue… and whereas I was quite prepared to entertain and follow up on such requests, looking at the nuts and bolts of them I also recognized that I would never READ that kind of fluff.
Vacuous. Superficial. Simple language. Keyword loaded. Exaggerated. Short.
Reads like a fucking advertorial, not an actual article!
Which ultimately makes me feel like I am not really a victim of changing editorial policy but a victim of growing Idiocracy.
Meanwhile, it also serves as a reminder to be grateful for Hive, and what it offers. Instead of thinking of this community in terms of what it ”should” give us, and what it ”owes” us, perhaps we’d be well off to remember that we’re actually quite privileged to have this opportunity.
Not suggesting there aren't things that are wrong and even a little sketchy here, but it's a lot better situation than most!
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great remainder of your week!
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Created at 2025.03.25 10:56 PDT
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Brotha, please come onto the blurt.blog blockchain. I've reblogged a few articles and made some videos recently on this subject.
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STOPWill you be re-posting the demonetized content on HIVE for archival purposes, or are you relying on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine to ensure it doesn't get lost? I know your footer advertises everything you share is HIVE-exclusive, but I doubt anyone would fault you for making an exception, and I for one wouldn't object to you getting a Hive payout on original content re-posted here, though others may disagree. If you link to the source, make it clear you're the original author, and decline payout, I doubt even the most curmudgeonly at Hivewatchers will object.
I don't know, @denmarkguy:
I don't know about your other platform, but from what I have read of your content here, you consistently create pretty interesting content.
Probably at least an equal contributor to what you are sharing with us here is this:
What is this really indicating? From one Silver Blogger to another, I would suggest perhaps this says more about the "content consumers" of our time than it does about your content.
Well, that is one way to characterize it. 😉
You share an interesting view point but also a truth of the feeling that
it certainly sucks trying to fill all the checkboxes but losing the message along the way.
Thanks for creating this post and sharing your thoughts! It was an interesting read and a good incentive to create quality posts.