1% Rule
In any Internet community, 1% of people create content, 9% contribute, and 90% lurk - aspire to be in the top 10%.
Also known as: 90-9-1 Rule, Participation Inequality, 1-9-90 Rule
Category: Principles
Tags: internet, community, content-creation, participation, principles
Explanation
The 1% Rule (also known as the 90-9-1 principle or participation inequality) describes the typical distribution of participation in online communities:
- **1% create**: These are the content creators, the ones who start discussions, write posts, create videos, or build something new.
- **9% contribute**: These users engage with existing content - commenting, editing, rating, or sharing.
- **90% lurk**: The vast majority consume content passively without visible participation.
This pattern appears consistently across platforms from Wikipedia to YouTube to forums.
**Why it matters:**
1. **Community building**: If you're building a community, expect most members to be silent. That's normal, not a problem.
2. **Personal challenge**: Aspire to be in the top 10%! Moving from lurker to contributor to creator compounds your learning, builds your reputation, and creates opportunities.
3. **Value creation**: The 1% create disproportionate value. Becoming a creator puts you in a position of influence.
4. **Network effects**: Contribution is how you benefit most from communities - both learning and networking happen through engagement.
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