What Do We Really Want From Our Platforms? Hey everyone! Hope you're having a great day. I've been thinking a lot lately about our relationship with content platforms, and I want to have an honest conversation about what we – both creators and viewers – actually want from these services. You know, it's funny. We spend so much time trying to figure out how to "make it" on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Twitter, but we rarely step back and ask ourselves what we really need from these spaces. And I'm not talking about fame or fortune here (though hey, that would be nice). I'm talking about the actual value exchange between platforms and people. Here's the thing that keeps bouncing around in my head: most platforms don't really care about us. I know that sounds harsh, but let's be real for a minute. These big platforms only care if we bring value to them – through ad revenue, through bringing more eyeballs to their platform, through generating data they can sell. As the saying goes, "if you're getting something for free, you're the product." Take YouTube, for example. Sure, it's great for learning stuff, and there's tons of amazing content. But at its core, YouTube isn't providing that service out of the goodness of their heart. They're serving you ads and collecting your data. That's the real transaction happening. Same deal with Twitter (or X, or whatever we're calling it these days). You're looking at ads, they're collecting data, and that's pretty much the whole relationship. But here's where it gets interesting – and why I'm actually pretty excited about where things might be heading. We're seeing this shift toward decentralized platforms, and it's completely changing the game. Let's talk about Mastodon for a second. On Mastodon, there's no algorithm shoving content in your face. You're not getting the "We think you might like cats, so here's 47 cat videos" treatment. Instead, you're in control. You tell the platform what you want to see. You choose who to follow. You pick your interests. It's actually a two-way street, which is pretty refreshing after years of being force-fed content. And that's what I think we actually want from our platforms – control. Real control, not the illusion of it. We want to be able to say, "Hey, this is what interests me" and actually get that content, without some algorithm deciding what we "really" want to see. Look at PeerTube – another great example. There's no algorithm there either. You get what you ask for, nothing more, nothing less. It's simple, and that's what makes it beautiful. We've gotten so used to these complex algorithms that we sometimes forget how nice it is to just... get what we asked for. Now, let's talk about live streaming for a minute, because this is where things get really interesting. Twitch has this whole system where they're basically forcing creators to run ads every hour, and it's creating this weird situation where streamers have to completely change how they run their shows. Think about it – you're in the middle of an awesome moment, and suddenly: ads. It breaks the flow, it frustrates viewers, and it's just not a great experience for anyone involved. And don't even get me started on the whole "Twitch provides you a stage" argument. Sorry, Dan Clancy, but we need more than just a stage. We need tools that actually help us create better content and build stronger communities. The "stream together" feature? That's nice and all, but most of us have been using Discord or other services for years to collaborate. We don't need fancy new features – we need the basics to work better. This is why I'm actually pretty excited about alternatives like Owncast. It's a single-channel live streaming service where you have complete control. Want to run an ad? Hit a button. Don't want ads? Don't run them. Simple as that. It's about giving power back to the creators and the community. Here's another thing we need to talk about: monetization. A lot of us creators – myself included – sometimes feel weird about asking for support. I rarely mention my tip jar or subscriptions because it feels... I don't know, kind of icky? But the reality is, creating content isn't free. Most of us are either doing this for free or actually losing money on it. We do it because we love building communities and creating content that helps people. But platforms need to find better ways to help creators monetize without destroying the viewer experience. The current model of "here's three minutes of ads every hour whether you like it or not" isn't working. It's pushing viewers away and making it harder for creators to maintain the quality of their content. You know what I think would be amazing? If platforms actually listened to their communities. And I mean really listened – not just had a suggestion box that goes into the void. Live Space is doing some interesting things in this direction, but we need more. We need platforms that understand that both creators and viewers are essential parts of the ecosystem. And let's talk about the elephant in the room: advertising. Yes, platforms need to make money. Yes, creators need to make money. But there has to be a better way than interrupting content every few minutes with ads. YouTube's model, where creators can choose when to place ads, at least gives some control over the viewing experience. But even that could be better. So what do we actually want from our platforms? Here's my list: Real control over our content and feeds Better ways to monetize that don't destroy the viewer experience Tools that actually help us create better content A genuine two-way relationship where our feedback matters Transparency about how things work and why changes are made Is that too much to ask? Maybe. But I think we're starting to see platforms emerge that understand these needs. The decentralized movement is showing us that there are alternatives to the big, algorithm-driven platforms. For those of you who've been following my content (and if you're new here, welcome!), you know I'm always experimenting with different platforms and trying to find better ways to create and share content. That's why I stream to multiple platforms – it gives viewers options. Don't like ads on Twitch? Watch on YouTube. Want a completely ad-free experience? Check out my Owncast server. The point is, we don't have to accept the status quo. We can experiment, try new platforms, and support services that align with what we actually want. And as more creators and viewers do this, platforms will have to adapt. If you're interested in exploring some of these alternatives, come join our community! We've got a great Discord server where we discuss this stuff all the time, plus forums and a weekly newsletter (just head over to 2tonwaffle.com to sign up). We're always sharing information about new platforms and better ways to create and consume content. At the end of the day, what we want from our platforms isn't complicated. We want tools that help us create and share content, ways to build genuine communities, and systems that respect both creators and viewers. The technology exists – now it's just a matter of supporting platforms that align with these values. What do you think? What do you want from your platforms? Drop a comment below or join us in the Discord to continue the conversation. And as always, thanks for reading, and I'll catch you in the next one! Later taters! Josh
By
JoshB · Posted December 5, 2024 Dec 5