This convergence has democratized production. Twenty years ago, creating high-quality video required a studio budget. Now, a teenager with a smartphone and a Ring light can produce that reaches a billion viewers. Platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok have shifted power from Hollywood gatekeepers to individual creators. The result is a golden age of niche content, where there is a show, podcast, or streamer for every conceivable interest, from Viking metal analysis to hyper-specific historical costuming.
Algorithms allow platforms to serve highly specific content to niche audiences, ensuring that there is "something for everyone."
