Are There Too Many Contests on Steem?

Steem veteran @denmarkguy wonders where the influx of contests on Steem comes from and whether the community has changed. More even, whether the future of Steem is about short, limited effort and whether longform content will even survive: So many contests, challenges. Is this the future of Steemit?

Looking around some more, it feels like the entire nature of content in our community has changed.

I say this, keeping in mind that I am pretty much following the same hand-picked 500-ish people I have been for quite a while. So it's their content that has changed... or is it me?

This morning, it seemed like every 3rd or 4th post was announcing or following some type of contest or challenge.

Photo by Dylan Nolte on Unsplash

My only question, though, is whether the many who get started by being part of contests move on to create something more substantial than contest entries. In other words, are contests and challenges "the future" of Steemit?

Personally, I think contests are a good thing for newcomers but the recent influx of contests most definitely has become ridiculous. Contests surely are the fastest path to interaction, and maybe the first few followers for most new Steemians. Not everyone has the skill to sign up and start with an essay which will not only be easily found but also go viral.

As a former blog network manager I can say that contests are mostly self-serving and NOT about giving away or supporting the community. The reality is that contests are a viral mechanic often resulting in not only visibility for the contest but also new followers. On Steem, of course, there's also the not so ethical request to upvote many contests come with, thus resulting both in additional revenue and SP for the organizer (even if a part of the SBD revenue is shared with the participants).

As I wrote in the comments on @denmarkguy's article, I expect many more contests to come this year, as well as a community eventually suffering from contest fatigue.

Of note, and slightly ironic when thinking about the evolution of both (linear) rewards and HF19 having led to upvote bots and their continued allowed existence on the platform is Denmarkguy's last line in response to my comment:

Nobody has any PATIENCE; nobody's willing to actually "bust their chops" for their rewards...

Head over to @denmarkguy's post, So many contests, challenges. Is this the future of Steemit?, and don't forget to chime in the comments.

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