Not everything has to be solving a direct problem, secondary benefits have to considered. Let's take Dailybooth (YC Summer 09)which was mentioned in this artic

Not everything has to be solving a direct problem, secondary benefits have to considered. Let's take Dailybooth (YC Summer 09)which was mentioned in this article. Whilst the creator may have just created the site because it sounded like a "fun" idea the value of the website is with the micro community that thrives. Heck, I'll even go as far as saying Dailybooth has helped to save lives. It's dedicated users consists of a subsection of society that may be outcasted in real life. Lets take a teenager who lives in a small town, whom may feel more accepted in a city but has no similar peers within a small town. Dailybooth facilitates this teenager to connect and belong to like-minded individuals people whom they have never met before. Over time real friendships are created over a shared connection which is the website and community. I heard of actual stories where a teen attempted to commit suicide due to being perceived as an outcast. In this case Dailybooth has facilitated friendships and connections with similar peers which in turn reduces the feeling of being outcasted in a small town, thus indirectly reducing the chances of suicide. There are even a number of Dailybooth users who travel across different countries to facilitate in real friendships and connections. It allows for boundaries of prejudice to be broken. So Dailybooth may not be solving a direct problem. But does it have value in our society? I would argue is certainly does. (I have researched extensively into the userbase and mechanics of Dailybooth and have been involved in it's community)