Have a Major Creator or Gaming-related Passion? Don’t Get Distracted by the Surface…
Focus Instead on the Underlying Platforms!
Social media, streaming, gaming, and other trendy industries have drawn our crowd of gen Z folks into the muddy waters without a clear look into what matters most.
Everyone wants to be a famous YouTuber, streamer, social influencer, content creator, a mix, or something in-between. OR, they want to build/create the actual tangibles which influencers worldwide adore to consume (games, novels, comics/manga, media/music).
We all have our inner passions which stem from this desire, and it pushes many to either:
A) Keep creating content on the internet.
B) Keep trying to build it themselves.
For example… love gaming? According to Statistica, in 2020 alone, a whopping 1.2 BILLION viewers were watching gaming-related video content on the internet, across Twitch, YouTube, or other video platforms.
Thus a symptom of this passionate gen Z market of content creators comes to light: pure market saturation.
Before we continue — I’m not saying that people should stop creating content. I’m saying people are jumping too fast into a now-saturated market without first considering the industries of tools and services which allow all of this to happen in the first place.
I’m a victim myself. For the past few years, I’ve been churning out content after content on a myriad of platforms, such as (haha…) Medium, YouTube, and TikTok, and I’ve been writing published novels, hoping many would start recognizing my prowess as a fiction writer.
It’s clear as day that only a small portion of all content creators end up making enough to continue thriving. According to this article by Josh Howarth, only 10% of all creators enter the six-figure income band.
So what am I suggesting?
If you’re conflicted or dejected on continuing your content creation journey, why not support the underlying platforms and technologies instead? They all enable our creator industry to thrive the way it is today in the first place. Be part of the hidden bull-run that is gaming, publishing, content, and other powerful platforms.
Lost in the weeds are the business and technological opportunities to not only support the services/tools which allow content, games, and media to be produced and consumed in the first place, but also to innovate them.
There are a plethora of platforms, databases, systems, teams, and other tools which serve as the key to unlock our world of content. Every year which passes by, more innovations and investments pour into these industries. Why not be part of a team of: development; product; design; marketing; advertising; sales; or any other role that still allows you to learn from a specific field you love?
For example, when you read about how massive the content creation industry is (an estimated $12.4 billion USD of valuation in 2022 with an upward growth to $47.2 billion by 2032 according to FMI), you may forget that these billions of dollars mostly comprise of revenue and investments from platforms and services, not the money flowing from consumers to content creators.
What do gaming, animation, and other media studios all have in common?
They’re all supported by a massive underlying industry of tools, platforms, and services.
For example, gaming is one of many trendy and passionate fields which gen Zs adore. If you dream about working in gaming but aren’t DEAD SET on joining a game studio team, then why not consider the world of gaming platforms, or other tools/services which enable your industry of passion to thrive? Unity Gaming Services, XBOX, AWS for Games, and other platform teams provide endless tools and services built and maintained by people who are equally as passionate about the space as you are. Heck, network with these folks; they know about the gaming industry better than anyone else, and they’re smart, diligent, and know how to deliver cool sh*t that makes the whole game development cycle easier for everyone.
What do YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, IGN, and Medium all have in common?
They’re all built and maintained by smart, talented and passionate teams who found their role in the content-creation industry.
Here’s one aspect I feel is often less talked about: If you work as part of a team to build, support, or market these platforms instead of trying to become an actual creator, you can still become an expert in your industry of passion and be well-known across the creator industry. You can engage and network with like-minded folks from both the production and the consumption side of work. You can probably become equally as or more well-known and reputable than the average content creator.
Conclusion
My goal was to bring greater visibility to the platforms, tools, and services behind our thriving creator community. Too summarize:
Many are easily distracted by what’s on the surface: a chaotic mash of wannabe creators, streamers, game developers, writers, and so-forth. Never forget the technologies which ENABLES this industry to thrive the way it is today in the first place. That’s where the true treasure chests are waiting to be opened.
About Me
My name is Kasey, AKA J.X. Fu (pen name). I’m passionate about (you guessed it) writing, and thus I’ve found myself deep in the abyss on weeknights creating novels. I’ve written two so far: a fantasy/action/mystery, and a romance-comedy. I do this while working a full-time tech PM job during the day.
Follow me on Medium for more writing, product, gaming, productivity, and job-hunting tips! Check out my website and my Linktree, and add me on LinkedIn or Twitter, telling me you saw my articles!
