Why do users generate content?

What is it that motivates Internet users to create and display content for a website that doesn’t belong to them and for which they get no financial reward?

Firstly, only 3 to 6 percent of a website’s membership adds three-quarters of the user-generated content, according to research undertaken by consulting firm McKinsey who surveyed 573 users of 4 German video-sharing websites. In addition, the research found that just 2 percent of the membership was responsible for over half of all videos viewed.

“These findings, consistent with our experience of participatory media in business settings, suggest that executives pursuing such projects should start by identifying and nurturing the small percentage of users who post quality content,” said the report's author.

So what is it that makes Internet users want to freely donate their time and effort to produce online content? Not money. None of the contributors involved in the survey were paid for their online contributions.

When asked, the majority said they did it for fame and for the fun of it. Some did it to share their experiences with friends and to benefit others.

http://www.bizreport.com/2007/09/why_do_users_generate_content.html

BizReport : Research : September 12, 2007

by Helen Leggatt. . . . .

...WHY DO YOU DO IT?...OR WHY DON'T YOU DO IT? WELL?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Michael Liebowitz on September 18, 2007 at 12:26pm

German video-sharing websites? Sounds creepy.

I think the desire of people to be famous for 15 minutes, coupled with the ease of getting videos up onto the internet, is what drives this trend. While everyone wants to be famous, not everyone wants to make an ass out of themselves. Hence the popularity of reality television.

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Permalink Reply by TJ on September 19, 2007 at 2:05pm

because almost EVERYONE has something to say about EVEREEEEEEEEEEE TING and wants...noooooo NEEDS to be heard.

even the idiots.

No shortage there, huh?

(did I just bust on myself?)

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Permalink Reply by Mark Schoneveld on September 19, 2007 at 2:26pm

Most people are doing it for a hobby. Sure, making videos with your buddies is fun, but when you only get to show it to yr mom, yr grandma and the buddies who made the vid with you, what fun is that? Why not have the opportunity (real or imagined) to have the WHOLE WORLD see your video?

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Permalink Reply by KB on September 28, 2007 at 1:57am

A great example of this is davesgarden.com. The plants database there is full of photograph and detailed descriptions submitted by plant lovers around the globe. It is now the largest such database in the world now. The site was begun in 2001 as a place for the webmaster to post his seed trading list. It's really an amazing story.