We have a content crisis on our hands. The majority of new websites are focused on social networking and user-generated content. Where has all the quality content gone?

The web was once a user-manual with a handful of information. As things developed, personal websites became more and more popular. There once was a time when if you searched for your favorite tv show on Yahoo, all of the top results would be Geocities pages filled with animated GIFs. Businesses of all types and sizes saw the potential in this and started publishing professional websites.

The web became overfluxious with information; the “information super highway.” Much of this came crashing down with the infamous bubble during the late 90’s. From the remains of web 1.0 emerged the Geocities webmasters; all of the amateurs that didn’t rely on business models. This generation was the idealists for web 2.0.

Today, the web 2.0 generation is all about social applications. Finding ways to republish, distribute, or promote user-generated content. The insanely crowded market of feed-readers makes a perfect example. Who uses web feed-readers, anyways? Not many. If you do you are in the minority. Feeds are disposable these days. Why would someone use a feed web app over the Live Bookmarks in Firefox? Do we, the users, really want to social network with every possible type of content?

It is clear the new web wants YOU to create the content. The market is generally focusing on ways to get you to do the work for them. Take a look at digg, their entire model is based on AdSense revenue from websites you post with content made by you. Or Wikipedia, who wants you to write the articles for their massive database.

It can be argued that quality content will emerge from the masses. While this may be true, it is a faulty business model because they are dependent investors to pay them for other people’s content. In the short term I imagine we will continue to see a growing market of social apps. The content, however, is ultimately what matters.

I challenge you to make original content for your next project. Make a website about skateboarding techniques, or a blog about cooking. Keep in mind that unique information is indispensable. If you write it, the users will come.