2024 marked a significant shift in the self-media industry as users became more adept at using social platforms and creating content. The rise of UGC (User Generated Content) became more prominent, with ordinary people gaining more influence and visibility through platforms like Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Bilibili. This shift made the industry more competitive, as even users with minimal followers could achieve significant exposure.
Professional content creators face increased competition from UGC creators who can quickly produce and publish content. UGC creators often use tools like Jianying to easily edit and post videos, sometimes even using AI-generated voices. This speed and accessibility make it difficult for professional creators to compete, especially when UGC creators can cover trends or events faster and with less production effort.
In 2017, self-media was often seen as an unconventional or niche career, with many people skeptical about its profitability. By 2024, self-media has become widely accepted as a legitimate and potentially lucrative career path. Many people now view it as a viable alternative or supplement to traditional employment, especially in uncertain economic times.
The speaker suggests two strategies for self-media creators in 2025: either compete with UGC by producing raw, fast-paced content, or focus on creating high-quality, professional content akin to YouTube standards. The speaker plans to pursue both strategies, aiming to balance between producing polished, large-scale projects and engaging in the competitive, fast-paced UGC space.
The accessibility of video production tools, such as smartphones with advanced cameras and easy-to-use editing apps like Jianying, has democratized content creation. This has lowered the barrier to entry, allowing even amateurs to produce and publish content quickly. As a result, the self-media landscape has become more crowded and competitive, with UGC creators often outpacing professional creators in terms of speed and volume.
In 2024, algorithms on platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu play a crucial role in amplifying the visibility of self-media content. Even users with minimal followers can achieve significant exposure if their content is picked up by the algorithm. This has led to a more decentralized content landscape, where traditional metrics like follower count are less important than the ability to create viral or algorithm-friendly content.