All of which makes total sense. I like to file this general trend under the heading “people like to do stuff.” Broadcast media had its day because it was technologically easier than providing a platform for interactivity — not because passive reception is something inherent in human nature. Human nature is inherently interactive, not passive. Thus as we give people more tools to collect, create and share things they care about online — they’re naturally going to use them.
I am looking forward to seeing the “creators” group continue to grow especially. I am totally with Will Wright on the idea that people like to make stuff. I take inspiration from the experience recounted with the launch of the Spore Creature Creator, where Maxis and EA expected to reach 100,000 creatures created in total between the time the Creature Creator launched in June and the full Spore game was released September 7 — instead they hit that figure within a couple of hours and within 18 days had reached 1,589,000 user-created species prompting Wright’s memorable quip that Spore users are 38% God. Humans are creative by nature. After years of media largely tightly controlled by a small number of vested interests, it’s totally amazing to be living in this time of tools and tinkering.
