A Platform for African Content Creators

Where Over Saturated Came From

I started Over Saturated a year ago. I started the website to create a space for South African content creators to make the content they wanted to make, however they wanted to make it.

It was going to function like a normal blog, where creators could submit content to the website, and then I would post it. There were small requirements, one being the amount of words writers should use. I was essentially in the editor position where people would submit content and then I would assess whether it should go on the website. That model is fine, it is how many publications work, and somehow make money doing.

I enjoyed running the website like that, but had some issues and growing the website was going very slowly. The goal was always to turn Over Saturated into my business, where I help empower other creatives. I was trying to do that.

Then COVID happened. I had a stable income before the virus but lost my job due to the virus. During that process, I started thinking of ways to make Over Saturated grow more quickly and start earning money.

The New Over Saturated

One of the first decisions I made was to change the website to be for Africans and not just South Africans. With some xenophobic attitudes that exist in South Africa, I thought I don’t want the platform to be apart of that, my heart is for the continent as a whole not just South Africa.

The next decision was to turn the website into something that could grow itself. After some research I decided that I wanted to make a platform where people could create their content without my influence. Where content on Over Saturated is content owned by the creator of it.

I am also not a fan of gatekeepers, I can’t speak to the African content space, but the South African content space is full of gatekeepers. I do not want to perpetuate that culture.

Now with users being able to create their own profiles and post their content without going through me first, I am no longer a barrier to their content going out into the world.

That is some of the inspiration behind the website. Here’s how it works.

An African User-generated Content (UGC) Platform

In short Over Saturated is now a platform where users can create a profile and post their own content. If you want to know more details about the platform check the What is Over Saturated page.

To join as a user, you can become a member here. Once you have joined as a contributor or author you can go to Your Posts and create a new piece. There are writers, podcasters and video creators posting on the platform.

If you don’t want to create content but want to support and engage with creators, you can join as a subscriber.

Another way you can support is by contributing financially on the Support Creators page. You can contribute to the website itself, or if you have a specific author you want to support, you can simply leave a note saying which author that is. We will make sure that money gets to them.

At this point in time, joining as a subscriber or a contributor is free. Becoming an author is a bit more complicated, but authors are eligible to get paid through the platform and are promoted by the platform.

This is version 1 of the new Over Saturated. The long-term goal is to further develop the subscription model and ultimately help African creators get paid to create whatever they want to create.

The change comes with a slight redesign of the platform. I have been working on this for the last few months, and I am excited to bring it to you today.

Please enjoy the platform, become a member, start creating your own content or support your favourite content creator. Let’s get more content by Africans out there.

On a personal level, I am still going to be writing my own blogs and posting my podcast on the platform, but it is no longer Tyrone’s website, Over Saturated. It is now Over Saturated, a platform for African content creators.