UGC - User Generated Content and Its True Value

In fact, UGC is typically more valuable than anything else out there.

[Selen]

Why do many webmasters or search engines these days consider USG (User Generated Content) to be of less value or quality than other kinds of content? This and many other forums or all the popular social-media sites are 100% USG content which cannot be matched by anything else out there.

Over the years, I've learned to avoid online newspapers that have no user comments; in fact, when I read an article, I start with the title and the first paragraph and move right below to the comments section to get the gist of the story from other people who have produced USG by posting their comments. I'm sure, other Internet users do exactly the same.

There may be some misconception about the true value of USG and hopefully Google, Bing and their AI will realize that non-USG content is mostly derived from user opinions posted on forums or social media sites. Just because content is a long article or a report with a picture that brings as many facts as a tweet doesn't make it a more valuable content to the reader. Does it?

[martinibuster]

The ability to track and target a person online is what makes the advertising valuable. That relates to the ability to convert a social media/forum citizen into a buyer.

Lacking that ability severely diminishes the value of those page views.

So yes, a page of content that is about a product is far more valuable to an advertiser because the visitors to that article are more reliably on the cusp of making a purchase, depending on the article.

[tangor]

Meanwhile, much like twitter mobs, UGC has been abused by the agenda driven, which has severely impacted any value the original article or report might have had. Many newspapers/news sites deactivated their comments, or heavily moderate them because of this behavior.

[Selen]

Regarding advertising value - I'd much rather read quick and diverse reviews from users = USG than one big article based on the opinion (paid or not) of the author :)

[engine]

UGC can be a great benefit if it's not abused, which is is, sadly, in many instances. It needs good moderation to keep it in line.

Spam, trolls, paid for comments and reviews can destroy a good read of user opinions and views on a product, or topic.

It'd be good to think that search AI will eventually understand the sentiment, and with big data, be able to see who is abusing the system

[martinibuster]

Regarding advertising value - I'd much rather read quick and diverse reviews from users

It's not about what you enjoy reading. This isn't subjective. When you say advertising value, you are talking about money. What you personally enjoy reading is irrelevant to any discussion of what advertisers pay based on their self-interest, which is selling more widgets. That's all that matters in a discussion of advertising value, selling more widgets.

[tangor]

any discussion of what advertisers pay based on their self-interes

Sadly, most times UGC just ain't the content advertisers hang their dollars on.