Patreon continues to carry out crusades on algorithm feed Create status Reports, viewing trends in creators’ economy based on internal data, is an effort that creators can lag behind.
In a survey of 1,000 creators and 2,000 followers, the membership platform reported that 53% of creators believe it is harder to attract followers today than five years ago.
This is not surprising. Celebrities fight against Instagram Video-centric, algorithm Feeding, even the Kardashians have a hard time attracting their fans. And if Kylie Jenner has trouble connecting with audiences, it’s even worse for creators who aren’t household names.
Fans were frustrated by the shift in social platforms to short form videos and “For You” feeds, and Tiktok both enabled “For You”. According to a Patreon survey, fans say they see shorter content on social media than long-colored content, but 52% of fans say they find long-form content more valuable, and overall, They would be more willing to pay for it. Long-form content also tends to generate more revenue through the advertising revenue share on YouTube, as the platform continues to struggle Monetization with short form of meaning.
This is the fundamental tension in today’s creator economy: platforms like Tiktok are easier to build audiences than ever before, but the huge content of algorithmic services means it’s hard to maintain it once the creator gets fans’ attention. If fans follow creators on Tiktok or Instagram, they may not actually see most of the posts of that creator because they are overwhelmed by posts from people they don’t follow.
That’s why, as the creators told Patreon, they now prioritize quality and deeper connections over metrics like number of followers, likes and opinions, which is from five years ago change.
“When you focus on a platform that eases the relationship between the creator and the subscriber, all you essentially have to do is empower the platform and have the responsibility to decide who to send it to, and when,” Tell TechCrunch When Instagram made major changes to its algorithm feed in 2022. “That’s part of what makes me angry. Because it took me years to build communities on these platforms for decades.”
With more creators than ever before, trying to make a living from the internet, clear paths to connect with fans are essential to profiting their business. But the dominance of algorithms often hinders this path, forcing them to adapt to their content to fit platform preferences. In fact, 78% of creators in the report said that “algorithms” affect what they create, while 56% acknowledged that it made them reluctant to explore their passions and interests. ”
These challenges are compounded by the wider instability of the social media platform itself. With tiktok Legal DangersMeta-reform Moderate content Precedent and X Platform Fringe Extremismcreators are increasingly frustrated with the current social media state. Direct-to-consumer content platforms such as Patreon, alternatives and Onlyfans make it easier for creators to control their content and make money, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to connect with people who want to pay first.
“The ‘algorithm’ cannot measure what people want,” said Karen X. Cheng, a Patreon creator in the survey. “It measures what people are paying attention.”
