Content creation

I have never quite understood what it means to be a content creator. Most definitions say something to the effect of: "a person who creates digital content." This still leaves the question: "What is content?"

I typed "define:content" into Google in hopes of getting an answer. I had to scroll pretty far down in the list of Oxford definitions to find one that seemed to fit: "information made available by a website or other electronic medium." The example given was "online content providers," so this was definitely the right definition. And yet, this definition offers no clarity, as it would imply that nearly anyone who posts on the Internet is a content creator. Is an anonymous 4chan chatter a content creator? Are speedrun researchers content creators? Are teachers who post assignments online content creators? Perhaps in literal terms they are, but I think it safe to assume that they are distinguishable from Twitch and YouTube users such as PewDiePie or SummoningSalt who are known for "content creation."

But what makes PewDiePie a content creator rather than a comedian? Why is SummoningSalt a content creator and not a documentarian or historian? Of course you can argue that all of these terms are valid, but then why is "content creator" used so often when its definition is much more vague than others? I don't think there is a clear answer here, but I will attempt to answer this question by isolating two variables: medium and audience.

Medium -- The Internet is the medium for content creation. All content creation starts, grows, and remains online. It is created for people who frequently use the Internet. It is hosted in a space where the content creator can provide updates and receive viewer feedback at any time -- a characteristic unique to the Internet. If it was hosted somewhere else, such as a movie theater, it would feel out of place and make less sense. Hollywood films and TV shows are not considered considered content creation, as they are created and popularized offline.

Purpose -- The primary purpose of content creation is to give large groups of viewers something they want -- typically information or entertainment. A person who creates videos for their own benefit, or for the benefit of specific people, is not typically considered a content creator. Examples include speedrunners who stream only for PB/race proof and gamers trying to meet friends. The goal for these people is not to provide content, although it may appear that way if their videos are sufficiently informative or entertaining. Conversely, everything a content creator does is with the viewer's response in mind.

Thus, one possible definition for content creation is: "information created and popularized on the Internet, usually in the form of a video, for the purpose of satisfying a large audience."

This answer is a starting point for which future discussions of content creation can be referenced. I have some personal opinions on content creation that I may organize into another paste.