🥲 Bad Incentives Ruined the Internet

What is the goal? To get subscribers? If we have a lot of subscribers, does that mean people are reading? So is that the goal, to have people read our work? And then what? I mean that sincerely. Then what? To change hearts and minds? To start conversations? To make yourself known? Why to strangers? Why not to your family or friends or people in you... See more

The internet phenomenon that is Wikipedia does not use “straightforward rewards” as the basis of its incentive system. Millions of people contribute to the online encyclopedia, but aren’t incentivized to do so through explicit reinforcement.

Although this incentive system is effective for those willing to put in the work, Wikipedia remains prominently written by only 1% of its contributors and similar to most content platforms, a majority of users spend their time as “lurkers” or “free riders.” This crucial conversion from “passive” to “active” comes down to the fulfillment of our need... See more