# The need for Follows

_**Rethinking Reputation in the Age of Internet Abundance**_

The evolution of social media, from Friendster and Orkut to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, has transformed digital interactions. During the internet's infancy and in a world where online presence was a rarity, every follower symbolized a meaningful connection. However, as internet access expanded, the value of follower counts has diminished (but not realized). **In today's internet-rich environment, existing metrics often fail to accurately reflect genuine trustworthiness or reputation, becoming more about quantity than quality.** Dominant social media platforms continue to emphasize these superficial measures, oversimplifying complex social dynamics into mere numbers.



_**Fostering a Creator-Centric Revolution**_

**Modern digital platforms, mainly app-based, predominantly rely on ad revenue (98% apps today). This approach offers free access but often at the expense of monetizing user data**. As a result, creators and users see limited financial gain, while the companies behind these platforms accumulate vast wealth. This highlights the undervalued nature of content and content creators in the current system.

Recent trends, however, indicate a shift. Examples include Twitter's payment integrations, the profit-sharing models of Substack, and the proposed revenue-sharing system of OpenAI. These changes suggest an evolution in Web 2.0 towards a more creator-focused approach.



_**Transforming the Act of Supporting Creators into a Tangible Investment Opportunity**_

In today's digital age, social media has become a pivotal platform for creators to showcase their talent and connect with their audience. **The global creator economy market size is currently worth $250 billion and will nearly double to $480 billion by 2027. However, there is no avenue to invest directly in this growing industry.**

Creators struggle to monetize their content effectively, while many fans find it challenging to directly support their favorite creators in a meaningful way.

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