Is a decentralized social network going to take over the social media landscape? For many of us, the feeling that social networks have been around for quite some time, has not quite settled in yet. From using a dial-up modem to entering into a mainstream era of CompuServe and AOL, the internet has come a long way.
Thanks to various networking platforms that introduced greater ideas for bridging the gap between users, social medial has resulted in stronger connections.
But today’s most popular networks such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook are centralized in the sense that there is one entity accountable for managing access to any content that you share or upload, privately or publicly. Modern day users aren’t exactly thrilled at the idea of entities having access to their accounts and every activity. In reality, it is a valid concern, particularly if the platform is not 100% clear on how it intends to use all data for any monetization efforts.
The popularity of social networks soared as networks were designed to appeal to a fundamental human need, the desire to belong to a group and socialize. Unluckily, many users have now begun to claim that social networks function more as ad-serving tools and spies.
The networking giant Facebook has too much control over its users’ data, which grants it much power to dictate terms. Another issue with the Facebook system is a problem that’s common among all centralized data stores. These networks are convenient targets for digital spies and hackers who need to misuse crucial user data.
That’s why the most convincing justification for having a decentralized social network is user control of all data. The decentralized framework of blockchain-based social media strikes a more equitable balance of power between the network and its users. In other words, users not only own their data but also control it. It does not stay with third-party parties.
Such a system allows users to have granular control over the data users share with websites and other users. There are other possibilities with user-based data ownership, including the capability to monetize it for personal interest.
Moreover, another component of a decentralized social networking system is its portability. The notion is to offer the same kind of functionality in the absence of one-sided data control. Naturally, this implies that a user’s personal identity is in their control and can be shifted from one app to another or exchanged between various platforms.
A user’s profile exists discretely from the service or application and interfaces with it only as much as is required. It is the user’s responsibility to safeguard his individual data and there is no third-party mediator to harvest, misuse or sell it.
There are many crucial barriers to a revamped social media system. Facebook’s network effect has become very powerful with over two billion members. The challenging task of creating a user base on a decentralized platform is even tougher owing to the high level of fragmentation in the market.
Consumers might realize, at some point, that there are advantages to having a mix of social media platform options. Blockchain projects include Wanchain, which eases cross-chain data exchanges, and the Keep Network, which improves security and privacy for making cross-chain transactions, could allow communication between different social media platforms. Decentralized systems make room for such flexibility and provide options that a centralized network, cannot.
Best Decentralized Social Network
One of today’s most popular decentralized social network is Diaspora. It boasts over one million users and works on a group of independently owned nodes that operate together to form the network.
Its developers refuse to bring ads to the network or sell it to larger corporations.
Another interesting social network that provides a string of useful features is Minds. It is quickly becoming a popular network. Unlike Facebook, it is developed on almost radical transparency. The code is open source and it features optional anonymity and encrypted messenger services.
Mastodon is an open-source decentralized network. The micro-blogging platform works much like Twitter; however, the difference lies in its terms of privacy. The network enables users to post messages within a 500 character limit, which are referred to as toots.
Sola is the next-gen decentralized social network which works nothing like today’s popular social networking sites. Sola is not rooted in the concepts of followers. It employs AI algorithms and user reaction for distributing information. This way the network identifies quality content and shares it to users who are interested in that particular type of content.
Final Thoughts
Facebook has the authority to use its users’ content in any way it wants. Twitter can share any of your content to a partner organization. Dropbox also has the license to share your data with trusted third parties for offering their existing services. Hence, the need for having a decentralized social network where users have more control, is making way for more and more platforms.
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