An Introduction to the Creator Economy: A Revolution in Work and Content Creation
Without a middle class will the revolution succeed?
September 22, 2023. Vol. 1, Issue 2. Infophilia.
Twenty-one years ago, on June 4, 2002, I unknowingly joined a revolution. I created ASC Online: A weblog of Information Science & Technology education and mentoring for LIS graduates. I was simply following my passion. A professor, I was teaching and training library school students to become information professionals and it wasn’t always easy. My students loved the convenience of online learning; we were using WebCT and transitioning to D2L, now called Brightspace. But some students were uncomfortable with more technology in libraries. I selected carefully and became a discerning technology evangelist writing to entice and convey possibilities pitfalls, and promises, in a microblog diary. The picture shows the last few months I wrote, in 2006.
I knew blogging was important. I did not know that it was one of the most important precursors and a critical driver of what we know today as a revolution in work.
Since then a seismic shift has taken place in the way people work, create, and connect with their readers and audiences. This is the phenomenon known as the "creator economy" and it is reshaping traditional career paths, redefining entrepreneurship, and revolutionizing the world of content creation. In this article, I'll explore the origins, growth, and impact of the creator economy, examining the driving forces behind its rise and the opportunities it presents for creators and consumers alike. Other names for the creator economy are passion economy, and influencers economy. It is also a software facilitated economy.