A decentralized or centralized Web3 platform can be distinguished from a traditional platform. If it is decentralized, it is probably a Web3 platform. If it is not, it is probably a traditional platform. Of course, the differences are much deeper than that.
One of the underlying principles of traditional social media, as with websites, is that you want people to stay on the platform as long as possible. This often means limiting what content can move between platforms, and even limiting what other sites can be navigated to on a particular platform. By keeping content displayed only on the platform that is displayed on the parent platform, you encourage users to stay on that platform. Decentralized social networks typically don’t limit the source of content or links that will bring users in. In fact, this helps democratize content distribution.
Ideally, Web3 platforms will also operate without permission as well as trust. In other words, you won’t rely on third parties to provide access to the platform, nor will you rely on them to mediate interactions with other users. This should foster community building as promised by Web2 social networks, but ultimately failed.
The best Web2 platforms for WebWeb3marketing
While Web2 social networks aren’t necessarily the best for user privacy and control, they are still huge platforms for marketing content hosted on Web3 platforms. While the best site for any content will vary, the big Web2 hitters are generally the best option for promoting your work. These sites include:
- Instagram;
- YouTube;
- Facebook;
- TikTok.
While Twitter used to be a huge platform for content creators, changes in ownership and uncertainty about future policies have led to many content creators not using the platform. Many are waiting for things to play out before deciding whether one stays or returns.
Let’s take a look at some of the big Web3 platforms you want to keep an eye on as a creator.
Diamond app
Diamond is a content-centric platform that matches the Web3 dream. It’s decentralized and uses blockchain to store content such as blogs and social graphs. This makes the content hosted there much more portable between different applications. It also makes monetization easier for creators who want to attract an audience.
Audius
Audius caters to the music crowd, both creators and listeners, and serves as a streaming service where some cryptocurrencies are baked into the DNA of the app. It is blockchain-based and time-stamped audio files at the time of upload. While the monetization of the app is still on its toes, the audio tokens that can be earned can be traded on several cryptocurrency exchanges.
Steem
Steem is not a social platform per se, but rather a platform for other social networks. Its basic design allows for the creation of social apps, and it also supports blogging platforms. It uses a basic decentralized version of blockchain technology, but its main appeal to creators is that it rewards them with their own cryptocurrency. While the exact mechanics of the rewards are very complicated, the idea is that there is a pool of rewards for creators. The platform maintains stable values by gently pegging the cryptocurrency to the US dollar.
Minds
The Minds platform is promoted as an alternative to Facebook, but also includes some monetization features more common to platforms like Patreon. The platform rewards users for interacting with it by posting new content. Rewards are accepted in the form of Ethereum cryptocurrency. Users can spend the cryptocurrency on the site to fund their advertising. They can also support other creators on the site by giving some or all of their cryptocurrency rewards to other users.
Bottom line
The Web3 world and the social networks that will go live are still in the development stage, but they are evolving rapidly. These platforms will reject the received wisdom of centralized social networks and embrace the decentralization opportunities that blockchain provides. Their websites will provide much greater privacy and mobility of content between applications and help protect user-owned content for creators. While blockchain is still in its new stages, the cryptocurrency potential also provides users on these websites with options to reward participation, content creation, and even gameplay. With the emergence of these options, there is only a short time before a new internet revolution begins.
