Image created with Midjourney. Prompt: Minimalist 2D illustration representing the 90-9-1 principle in an internet community. Show a group of people, with 90% represented as passive consumers, 9% as active contributors, and 1% as enthusiastic creators. Use simple shapes and contrasting colors to convey the different levels of participation.
<aside> 💬 The 90-9-1 principle suggests that within an internet community such as a wiki, 90% of participants only consume content, 9% edit or modify content and 1% of participants add content.
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In the world of digital communities, user engagement is a vital metric for measuring the success of a platform. The 90-9-1 principle offers a useful framework to understand the dynamics of user participation in these communities. This principle suggests that within an internet community such as a wiki, 90% of participants only consume content, 9% edit or modify content, and 1% of participants add content1.
Let's look at three examples of how the 90-9-1 principle applies to digital software products:
On social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram, the vast majority of users primarily consume content created by others. They browse through their feed, read posts, and watch videos but rarely contribute. A smaller fraction of users will actively engage by liking, commenting, or sharing posts. The smallest group, however, are the content creators who regularly post original content and actively shape the community.
In online forums or discussion boards like Reddit, the 90-9-1 principle is very apparent. Most users browse threads and read discussions, a smaller percentage comment and engage in the discussion, and an even smaller group starts new threads or posts original content. Understanding this dynamic can help in designing features that encourage more active participation from users.
Platforms like Wikipedia or GitHub, where the content is mostly user-generated, also follow the 90-9-1 principle. Most users are there to use the information or code shared by others. A smaller group will make edits or modifications, and the smallest group consists of those who add new articles or repositories.
In conclusion, the 90-9-1 principle provides valuable insights into user behavior in digital communities. Recognizing these patterns can guide the design and development of digital software products, allowing creators to better cater to the needs of their user base, and potentially devise strategies to encourage more active participation. As we design the digital products of the future, understanding and leveraging these engagement dynamics will be key to creating vibrant, engaging online communities.
The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
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