Why you should use Web3 alternatives to mainstream social media like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube?

The beginning of this century saw the advent of social media. Slowly, the usage of these social media gathered momentum. Western countries started using social media initially, with the wave spreading to Eastern countries, finally having users worldwide.

People started engaging with others through social media. It became a favorite pastime for most people. Soon, Celebrities & Politicians used social media as a tool to connect with their audience. This further increased the usage of social media.

While social media has gathered momentum in the last two decades, its creators have had more control over its happenings. In an attempt to monetize, there are cases against a few mainstream social media in which users’ private data and browsing habits are tracked.

Mainstream social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have more control over users’ data. They resorted to an autocratic governance model. Although there are many advantages to using mainstream social media, there are a few cons, too.

The cons of mainstream social media led to the development of Web3 alternatives. In this blog, I will discuss the reasons behind using Web3 alternatives instead of mainstream social media. The reasons for the need for Web3 Alternatives are listed below.

• Decentralized System
• Censorship Resistant
• Crypto Monetization
• No/Fewer Advertisements

Let’s move on to discuss each in more detail.

Decentralized System

The data is hosted on a Centralized server in mainstream social media applications. This means the application's creator or the company behind it has more control over the application. In Web3 applications, the data is stored across many nodes/computers in a distributed/decentralized fashion.

The decentralized mode of storing makes the data immutable. No single entity has control over the data. The users can move from an autocratic to a democratic governance model. The user need not be succumbed to the power of a single entity.

A few centralized systems, like Twitter and Reddit, have recently made some API Changes. This means the way the application is accessed has changed. Any third-party application using these APIs for business purposes is at risk. Decentralized systems can mitigate this risk.

From a developer's point of view, hosting mainstream applications on a single server incurs enormous costs. The server costs are very high. Social media applications built in a decentralized and distributed way will not incur such high fees.

In April 2019, it was revealed that two datasets from Facebook apps had been exposed to the public, resulting in a data breach. The information related to more than 530 million Facebook users was compromised. With a Decentralized system, we can avoid such security breaches.

Censorship Resistant

There were cases of Twitter blocking links to Mastodon, a decentralized Twitter alternative. This incident is a perfect example of the autocratic and censorship nature of mainstream social media.

Apart from blocking posts and links, there are also cases of blocking users. Users are, therefore, very protective when airing their opinions on mainstream social media. Users can, therefore, exercise their option of migrating to decentralized systems.

With centralized social media, users struggle to express their thoughts freely. They are emptied of their power for freedom of expression. Decentralized systems are censorship-resistant and abide by their ethos of free expression of thought.

The DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) model of BlockChain is the most talked-about governance model. With DAO, governance is not controlled by the people. Instead, it is controlled by code using the concept of Smart Contracts.

Although Decentralized BlockChain serves as a cure-all for many problems. They are still not widely accepted. Few countries do not wholly favor decentralized systems. They are skeptical about BlockChain & Crypto initiatives and hardening governmental laws regarding BlockChain.

Crypto Monetization

Mainstream social media sites like YouTube reward their users for creating content. However, the threshold for monetizing the content is very high. Users need a huge follower base for monetization. The consumers of the content are not rewarded.

On the contrary, decentralized social media rewards users for contributions in any form. Users may post, share, like, or comment, but they are still rewarded. Another good thing is that the monetization threshold is very low.

The Web3 social media users can quickly discover a steady flow of revenue through their contributions. They can almost earn everyday. Social media will no longer be seen as a platform for wasting time. Thanks to decentralized social media, earning is easier.

Each Web3 social media will contain a governance token and a utility token. These tokens will be proprietary to each social media. Users can earn crypto in the form of tokens. They can also use governance tokens to have their say in the application’s governance decisions.

These earned Crypto need not be in Crypto forever. There are many Crypto exchanges like Coinbase & Binance. Users can exchange their crypto tokens for FIAT currencies and reap the benefits instantly. However, this is not the case in all countries.

No/Fewer Advertisements

Most mainstream social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, generate revenue through advertising. Their revenue model is advertisement-driven, while decentralized systems are not. This is a very good reason to migrate to Web3 alternatives.

Google has ‘Google Ads’, and Facebook has ‘Sponsored posts’ and ‘Boosting’ features to generate revenue. Decentralized systems don’t have such a dedicated ad revenue stream for profit generation. Instead, they follow the Web3 ethos.

Also, while executing ads, they are targeted at the right audience based on profile data and browsing behavior. This means mainstream social media is very intrusive & uses your data. This is not the case with Web3.

In Web3 systems, you are the owner of your data. The data is not stored in any centralized server, and you can choose to be completely anonymous. The creator of social media does not have control over your data, giving one more reason for Web3 migration.

Parting Thoughts

It is no wonder that mainstream social media is doing well. They have their own loyal followers. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube continue to provide value in their own way. These platforms are also very useful for many people.

However, it also contains many cons, which are very evident through the eyes of Web3 enthusiasts. They need a decentralized system, censorship resistance, crypto monetization, and anonymity. Web3 provides those in the best manner.

I encourage you to use Web3, especially if you are tired of using Web2 systems that hold so much power over your data. Web3 social alternatives will help you see social media differently. Although they are not widely used, they are undoubtedly gaining traction.

Web3 guarantees better quality Social media if you are super protective of your data and control. Remember to share your thoughts about using Web3 alternatives over mainstream social media. Your feedback is highly valued. You can reach us at [email protected].