Should I Decentralise My Social Self?
Well, it’s a principal thing combined with a simplicity thing.
In principle, Web 3 promises to disenfranchise monolithic social networks from User Data, which not only handed them the wealth of nations, but also gave them the keys to the kingdom of politics. This language may be too strong for some. I mean, haven’t social networks done their best to provide unprecedented connectivity between humans? Yes, but we all know the Freemium Model, though cleverly presented and packed with functionality, is basically one enormous sales funnel. Personally, I object to being packaged-up like a farm animal.
This gives rise to the concept of Data Sovereignty, that our digital footprints are our individual property. Imagine if commercial enterprises wanting to advertise their products and services to you had to pay YOU for the privilege. This is a game changer.
In terms of simplicity, while blockchain has shown us that digital “stuff” can have properties similar to real world objects, the design of blockchains has a critical flaw. It is an understandable flaw, but a flaw nonetheless. This flaw lies in how we pay for computation and storage on blockchains. Currently, everyone interacting with a blockchain has to pay a “Gas” fee for every transaction the cost of which fluctuates according to the number of transactions being performed at any one time. This issue is made all the more maddening by the fluctuating value of cryptocurrencies. This state of affairs is unsustainable.
Yes, I know that paragraph started with the phrase, “In terms of simplicity.” Bear with me on this one. We are nearly there.
The simplicity of which I speak is the development of the “Reverse Gas Model”. Basically, developers pre-pay the Gas fees. Thereby making their Blockchain based products and services free to the user.
Therefore, the blogging solution I patiently sat on my itchy fingers for was one which Auntie Betty can interact with WITHOUT having to go through the rigamarole of buying any cryptocurrency.
But there was one more thing. Because I am a caring sort of person it is important to me that Auntie Betty can interact with all this stuff safely. What does this mean? It means she can go online without being shocked by others’ inane rudeness AND avoiding the ever present tendrils of criminal scammers. This brings the concept of On-Line Moderation into focus.
Moderation of peoples’ behaviour is a massive thing for me. This isn’t the same as censorship. It’s about protecting the most vulnerable in our society. My understanding of this was developed over my 17 years in the UK state education system. You can rag all you like about freedom of speech and expression, but IMO this should never, ever, EVER, come at the expense of another's freedom of speech and expression. It’s a complex field we can discuss in detail another time.
The bottom line is that over the past month or so we have seen the integration of a novel Web 3 moderation service with a Web 3 blogging service.
The package is gaining completeness.
Welcome, Auntie Betty!
So, am I ready to decentralise my social self?
Nearly, very nearly. As more content is produced, familiar functionality is plumbed-in, barriers to entry are reduced and the environment is made safer, more people will become more comfortable with exploring Web 3 solutions. I give it a year, maybe two. And then, like Kaiser Soze in The Usual Suspect, “Poof!” I will be gone.