It’s kinda interesting that there are no real prizes on the internet. There’s the Webby awards modeled on the oscars I guess but afaik nobody really gives a shit. Maybe you need scarcity and gatekeepers to make prizes meaningful.
Prizes kinda imply a striving middle class doing jobs. The internet lacks a middle class. There’s only billionaires, and temporarily embarrassed billionaires.
You want a prize, go get a real job offline. There’s livings to be made online, but no real jobs.
In the rare cases where it looks like an online job, like “social media marketer” or “community manager,” randos who do it for lulz set such a high standard, the median person who does it as a job presents as cringe. That or the job is an actual scammer or crime job.
Interesting to ponder whether the creator economy will lead to prizes. I suspect not. Creators are ultimately platform customers, not employees. In fact it’s the companies that vie for prizes where there’s enough competition.
“Living” is an interesting word. Points to just securing the means of continued existence. Literally “living.” Opposite of calling, which all jobs aspire to. A suggestion of a life journey as a scripted story. There are no callings online. No stories. You’re just there, living.
I think it will. However the primary recipient of these prizes will be kids and teens. Think X-prize (including conquering challenges and celebrating unique achievements).