User-Generated Content Isn't Free, It's Just Debt in Disguise 🎭

We bought into the UGC hype like everyone else authentic content from real users, zero production costs. It sounds like the ultimate marketing hack until your campaign actually goes viral. Then, the brutal truth hits: UGC doesn't eliminate costs; it just shifts them into moderation hell. Instead of paying creators, you’re paying reviewers. Instead of production timelines, you’re building massive content pipelines. That "free" content ended up costing us more in engineering hours and legal risk t