I think people leave after some time because they think this is a Facebook clone where you make money for your comments, whereas in reality this is a blogging platform, with the difference being that you don't have to worry about the advertising or securing sponsorships. I think that's the thing that most people don't understand, and that's the reason I have never really asked any friend or family to sign up.

I don't know... maybe Steemit will be like Facebook in the future, but today, its certainly not that.

But ultimately, you have to put things into perspective. The biggest advantage for those here right now is the small size of the platform. This is blazing sunshine. There is no better time to make hay than this.

In contrast, do you know how difficult it is to stand out on Youtube? or even Twitter/Snapchat? Or hell, maybe you're a developer. Do you know how hard it is to make your app stand out on the Google/Apple App Stores? But here, you can make something, and the monetization is kinda built-in!

Sure, Steemit is difficult, but it's nothing compared to other mainstream platforms. People don't even try on those platforms, because they know they have no chance. But Steemit is advertised as a "Get Rich Quick" scheme.