In 1994 we were seeing this all for the first time. Everyone had intrusive thoughts like "how big can I make a pop tart fire", but very few had the ability to make digital photographs and upload it to the Internet for all to see. Today, everyone has the ability to upload it to the Internet for all to see, so someone probably already had your intrusive thought and already made $10,000 off of it.
It also had a high (relatively) barrier to entry, technically speaking. This limited contributors on the internet to a specific cohort of curious-minded individuals.
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One could argue that social media has taken its place. Although, the format makes it bite size and within a sea of algorithmic trash.
In 1994 we were seeing this all for the first time. Everyone had intrusive thoughts like "how big can I make a pop tart fire", but very few had the ability to make digital photographs and upload it to the Internet for all to see. Today, everyone has the ability to upload it to the Internet for all to see, so someone probably already had your intrusive thought and already made $10,000 off of it.
The old Internet had far far less, er "social validation" feedback. And if it did it was more like a person reaching out to write you a letter.
It also had a high (relatively) barrier to entry, technically speaking. This limited contributors on the internet to a specific cohort of curious-minded individuals.