With its most recent State of Create report, which examines developments in the creative economy based on internal data, Patreon has continued its fight against algorithmic feeds. This is an initiative that artists can support.
According to the membership platform’s poll of 2,000 fans and 1,000 creators, 53% of creators believe that reaching their following is more challenging now than it was five years ago.
There is no surprise about this. Even the Kardashians find it challenging to connect with their fans due to Instagram’s video-centric, algorithmic feed, which celebrities have resisted. It’s much worse for authors who aren’t well-known if Kylie Jenner is struggling to engage her audience.
The “For You” feed and social media companies’ move toward short-form video, both of which were introduced by TikTok, have angered fans. Fans are viewing more short-form content on social media than long-form content, according to Patreon’s poll. However, 52% of fans stated that they would be more ready to pay for long-form content overall because they believe it to be more useful. Because platforms still have trouble monetizing short-form content, long-form material also tends to make more money through ad revenue share on YouTube.
The core conflict in the modern creative economy is as follows: Building an audience has never been simpler thanks to platforms like TikTok, but because of the vast amount of information that is served by algorithms, once producers capture the interest of a fan.
As a result, creators informed Patreon that, in contrast to five years ago, they now place a higher value on quality and closer relationships with fans than on metrics like views, likes, and follower numbers.
A clear route to fan interaction is crucial for creators looking to monetize their enterprises, as more than ever attempt to earn a living online. But that route is frequently blocked by the supremacy of algorithms, which forces them to modify their material to suit platform preferences. Indeed, according to the survey, 78% of creators stated that “The Algorithm” influences their work, and 56% acknowledged that it has deterred them from pursuing their hobbies and ambitions.
These difficulties are made worse by social media platforms’ general instability. Creators are becoming increasingly irate with the existing state of social media, as evidenced by TikTok’s legal troubles, Meta’s revision of its content control guidelines, and X’s platforming of fringe extremism. Platforms for direct-to-consumer content, such as Patreon, Substack, and OnlyFans, have made it simpler for content producers to manage their work and earn revenue, but it’s become more difficult to reach the audience that initially wants to pay for their work.
Karen X. Cheng, a Patreon creator, in the survey
“‘The Algorithm’ doesn’t measure what people want,”. “It measures what people pay attention to.”
