Does the democratization of production tools inevitably lead to a decline in average content quality?

Answer content: Okay, let's talk about this very interesting question.

Does the democratization of production tools inevitably lower the average quality of content?

My answer is: "Average" quality indeed declines, but this is not a bad thing at all—in fact, it’s a tremendously good thing.

Sounds counterintuitive, right? Hold on, let’s understand this with a real-life example.

Imagine cooking.

In the past, only a select few trained as professional chefs could produce "high-quality" dishes in well-equipped restaurant kitchens. Ordinary people at home had simple tools, limited ingredients, and skills passed down through word of mouth. If you wanted a "high-quality" feast, you had to go to a big restaurant.

Now? Production tools have been "democratized." Nearly every household has fully functional gas stoves, ovens, microwaves, and even air fryers and blenders. Online recipe tutorials abound—from Michelin chef secrets to home cooking by food bloggers.

What's the result?

1. The "average level" has indeed dropped. Now, almost everyone can cook a few dishes. Among them are skilled masters, but far more are ordinary people like you and me. Our dishes might be mediocre in taste, look unimpressive, or even occasionally become a complete "disaster."

If you take the "quality" of all food cooked today (by both professionals and amateurs), add it up, and divide by the total number of cooks, the resulting "average score" will undoubtedly be lower than in the past when only professionals cooked. Because the denominator (people cooking) has become enormous, flooded with a vast number of "starter-level players."

This is exactly what we see happening in the content arena. When cameras, editing software, and publishing platforms (like Douyin, Bilibili, Weibo) became incredibly easy to use and cheap, everyone became a creator. An ocean of content is being produced, inevitably filled with masses of rough, derivative, poorly-made work. Mathematically, this inevitably lowers the "average."

But, why is this a tremendously good thing?

Focusing solely on the drop in "average" quality makes us overlook far more important changes. Using the cooking analogy again:

First, the "ceiling" for top-tier content has been raised, and there's greater variety.

In the past, "good food" might have meant just a few classics like a Manchu-Han imperial feast. Now? The collision of new tools and ideas has given birth to molecular gastronomy, fusion cuisine, and more. Similarly, in content—while there are many rough short videos—it has also produced incredibly creative and high-production masterpieces like "He Kexiang" videos, or content that's both entertaining and rigorously educational, like that from "Wuliang Xiaoliang." These are "new species" unlikely to emerge in an era dominated by traditional TV stations. Competition forces top creators to work harder and be more innovative to stand out.

Second, and most crucially: The triumph of the "Long Tail."

This graph illustrates the famous "Long Tail Theory."

The Head (Red Part): Represents the traditional "high-quality" blockbuster content of the past—Hollywood movies, bestsellers. They have broad appeal but are limited in number.
The Tail (Yellow Part): Represents the vast multitude of niche, personalized content.

In the past, due to high production and distribution costs, only head "blockbusters" could be produced and seen. Want a tutorial on "How to raise hamsters in an attic"? TV stations wouldn't film that for you. Want to learn a very obscure musical instrument? You couldn't find teaching materials at all.

The truly great thing about the democratization of production tools is that it enormously enriches the "Long Tail."

Now, whatever you want to learn, you can almost certainly find a video tutorial online, no matter how niche. Love a particular niche game? You'll find guides and livestreams by fellow enthusiasts. Intrigued by a lesser-known historical figure? A history student might have made a detailed explanatory video just for that.

These pieces of content might not be very polished, perhaps lacking the production quality of a National Geographic documentary. But for the specific user who needs that exact thing, its "quality" is 100 out of 100! It solves that user's specific need.

We no longer passively accept standardized "high-quality" content fed to us by a few "elites," but can actively seek out completely customized content that suits our exact tastes.

Third, it redefines "quality."

The dimensions of "quality" have multiplied. In the past, video quality might have meant resolution, cinematography, and music.

Now?

A shaky, phone-recorded video capturing an urgent, unfolding event? Its Authenticity is its quality.
A down-to-earth beauty blogger honestly telling you which foundation works best? Its Practicality and Relatability are its quality.
A game streamer pulling off an insane move that floods the chat with "666"? Its Entertainment Value and Resonance are its quality.

The democratization of tools means authority is no longer the sole benchmark. Vitality, Authenticity, Usefulness, and Resonance have all become crucial components of quality.

In summary

So, back to the initial question: Does the democratization of production tools inevitably lead to a decline in the average quality of content?

From a purely mathematical "average" standpoint: Yes. Because the denominator (creators and content volume) has exploded, flooding the field with masses of non-professional content, pulling down the average.
But regarding the ecosystem's overall "health" and "value": Absolutely not. This represents tremendous progress.

We haven't lost the "Michelin-starred meals" (top-tier productions); on the contrary, there are more types of top-tier work, and their level is higher. Beyond that, we now have countless "private kitchens," "late-night eateries," and "home-style cooking" catering to individual needs.

The challenge we face is no longer "there's nothing good to consume," but rather "how to quickly find exactly what we crave tonight within this banquet of blockbusters and infinite home-cooked meals." This is the problem recommendation algorithms and content platforms are striving to solve.