is Anything New Anymore?
exploring The Challenges of Finding Unique Content Online
The idea that any of the content we see is not new is unironically not new.
With generative AI taking over content creation and marketing, trends dictating the direction, and a crackdown on “free” speech, there is undoubtedly a repetition of the same ideas with subtle adjustments.
Does it need to be new anyways? What constitutes new?
inspiration
I just want something to watch!
Nowadays, I find it difficult to watch shows that have multiple seasons so I tend watch them sporadically or not even finish them at all!
Maybe it is due to increased short-form content consumption which can have its own cognitive impact. I believe it is the lack of originality but I may be wrong because directors are definitely trying to think outside the box.
Take the new Netflix thriller, “Accused”, which is a take on the grave dangers of social media.
Scene from “Accused” on Netflix
Even watching that, I thought it was fresh but plot was a bit predictable from about 20 mins in. Still a great watch nonetheless I am hard to impress haha.
Movies and TV are just one domain. Think of new music that has really changed the game. Brands and companies that are really taking a new approach to their business? What about news and journalism?
From observation, you also may not experience new and unique content but I can assure you it exists which leads onto my exploration of potential issues there isn’t more of this type of content.
the Issue?
I don’t think there is a specific reason but a wide range of non-technical issues in todays media:
“if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” — We can now see all the metrics for content that is working and successful whether it is a song, blog, movie etc. Hence, recycling the proven work is an ideal option for many creators.
Monetization Pressures — creators who are do what they do to earn a living have are under pressure to take less risks and follow the dollar signs.
Cultural Homogenization — the internet has gone global with over 5.19 billion people with access to internet in 2023 . As a result, incorporating a diverse cast and exploring various cultural ideas has become necessary to capitalize on the bigger audience.
is There Anything Wrong With Cultural Homogenization?
Not at all! The issue is that it diverts the point of the movie or the article away from where it was initially meant to go.
Imagine you’re attending a live music concert, and the performer, instead of focusing on their planned setlist and musical journey, takes time between every song to individually thank each member of the audience. While it’s a genuinely kind gesture, it disrupts the flow of the performance and distracts from the overall experience.
I just think it is better to pick an idea and execute that idea without distractions and unnecessary considerations.
“algorithms And Metrics” - artwork
The internet is vast and content creators come in all shapes and sizes.
The possibility that you haven’t discovered that book or podcast that is perfect for you is high because of the way search engines and recommendation algorithms work.
diagram of different content recommendation systems by Sankit Doshi
Above is a simple illustration of the ways new content is recommended to you.
It is very easy to be pigeonholed into consuming nearly identical content all the time. Algorithms are not really tailored for exploration but sticking to what works not only for you but for others.
So are the algorithms the blame for me not getting to see something “new” on Netflix? They definitely play a massive part but the underlying data is still yours.
what Is New Anyways?
Maybe the search for ground-breaking content or new is pointless because regardless of if it is minute difference or seismic, any change is still change.
From a visual stand point especially, even subtle changes to the way an image is portrayed can constitute a brand new image.
For example, observe the following image of a computer. It is just a computer on a white canvas.
“plain computer”
just a plain computer on a white canvas
The “think” computer is something completely brand new. It is for ‘thinkers’ and the computer can even think for you!
Is this new or even different from the initial design? Of course because I made it and look at the font, its different from the original!
conclusions?
There is interesting stuff out there but you need to be ready to sift through miles worth of generic and uninteresting stuff.
This is mainly due to both issues on the creators and distributors end in terms of recommendation algorithms opting to show you the same stuff over and over.
The idea of new stuff even being out there is subjective as shown by the transformation from just ‘computer’ to the amazing ‘think’ computer. New ideas and content can be created possibly by just shifting the camera a bit to capture a new angle or perspective. However, I wouldn’t consider it new but to each their own.
