The 90–9–1 rule, also known as the 1–9–90 rule, is a rule of thumb that describes the participation inequality in online communities. This rule suggests that 90% of users are lurkers who only view content without contributing, 9% of users contribute a little by editing or commenting, and only 1% of users actively create new content.
This rule is often used to explain the distribution of activity in online forums, social media platforms, and other online communities. It is important to note that the actual percentages can vary depending on the size and nature of the community, but the general principle remains the same: a small number of users contribute the majority of content.
Examples of how this rule might apply:
- Online forums: While there might be thousands of users on a forum, only a small percentage actively post new topics or replies. Most users simply read the discussions.
- Social media platforms: On a social media platform like Twitter, a few influential users might generate a large amount of engagement through their tweets, while the majority of users simply follow and interact with a limited number of accounts.
- Wiki sites: While many people might view information on Wikipedia, a smaller number contribute edits to existing pages, and an even smaller group create entirely new articles.
Implications of the 90–9–1 rule:
- It highlights the importance of engaging a small but active group of users to drive online community growth and content creation.
- It suggests that online communities can thrive even if most users are passive.
- It emphasizes the need for effective strategies to encourage participation and engagement from a wider range of users.
