The Evolution of Content Creation
Content here, content there, content everywhere… To be a Content Creator is one of the many things that have been brought to us by the new wave of the digital world. But what exactly do we mean when we say content?
So let’s back-track a little, content is the information contained in communication media. This could be anything in the form of print like billboards, posters, and brochures etc. On the digital side it can range from any form of social media content like still imagery through to video.
Prior to the surge of digital media, the process of producing and sharing different types of content may have been left to those professionals who specialise in doing this stuff. However it is safe to say that over the past 10 years in particular, the power of tech, specifically the tech contained in the palms of our hands nowadays, has shook this scene up quite a bit, but how?
Well at the beginning of the internet, the different social platforms all started to develop and make themselves known. Eventually they became a part of our daily routines; like how for many it may feel instinctual, perhaps even compelling, to get a snapshot of their meal for the Gram before they dig in.
In the early years of digital we first adapted to communication platforms like MySpace and MSN which allowed us to experience the magic of being able to share information across the globe instantly, with just the click of a button.
It wasn’t until 2005, when the soon to be mega-giant Youtube emerged, which was the first platform of its kind that focussed solely on sharing video content. Youtube is the leading platform that defined and paved the way for content creation to exist and find its way to mainstream media, as we know it today.
Initially the first users intended to post personal videos on Youtube for their friends and family to be able to view, subsequently one thing led to another and some ‘eureka’ moments like cat videos caught massive public attention and invented what we now know to be ‘viral’ sensations.
It was in the early 2010’s when ‘Youtubers’ first became established in the media scene. As individuals noticed they have gained a following, they started to post about absolutely anything they wanted. This naturally formed all the pockets of different niches that now exist in the deep corners of Youtube, like ‘Study-tube’ or the ‘Beauty Guru’ community.
Digital’s future
Digital moves quickly. With a new trend out almost every time you check your socials and people coming up with new creative ways to present their content, and new ways in which we can consume it. An example of this today is the coming of virtual reality which Meta has some big plans for.
The definition of ‘content’ is ever evolving and changing, and the tech made accessible to us means its progressing at a faster rate than ever; Tik-Tok is a prime example of a new platform coming to the media scene, and its users creating space for all the different categories of content to exist all in the same place.
Our world today is on a digital trajectory that is bound to keep us on our feet with new content at our doorstep each and every day. Before we know it we may look around and think: content here, content there, content everywhere!