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[Brainstorm] A privacy-conscious social network with crypto-rewards

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deweller

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Location: Nashville, TN

So what if there was a social network that encouraged user's control of their own privacy? What if it paid it's users in rewards for the value they bring to the network? And what if it were decentralized in both its technology and governance?

Is such a thing feasible? Is it possible? Does it already exist?

I know there is Diaspora and identi.ca. Are these "good enough"? What are they missing that has never allowed them to go mainstream? Would adding a crypto-rewards layer to something like this be a game-changer?

So those are my many questions without answers.

I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

Posted on August 5, 2014 at 12:01 PM

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• bcohen

  

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  Are you familiar with Eben Moglen?

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJCczbSF-B8

  http://betabeat.com/2011/12/in-which-eben-moglen-like-legit-yells-at-me-for-being-on-facebook/

  Posted on August 5, 2014 at 3:43 PM
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• bcohen

  

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  Also Episode 21 of LTB http://p2pconnects.us/2013/07/07/discussing-personal-clouds-on-lets-talk-bitcoin-and-porc-therapy/

  Posted on August 5, 2014 at 3:45 PM
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• RockHoward

  

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  Location: Austin TX

  I have been thinking similarly but not really about the privacy part. More about the possible effects that a closely held token issuance might have to tighten the bonds of a social network. A hundred years ago their were tons of social organizations in the U.S. that, like church communities, served as mutual aid societies. Apprenticeships, micro-loans, business introductions and just plain friendship were the hallmarks of these institutions. Nowadays you can build communities online, but not all of the benefits of old style social networks are available. I wonder if cryptocurrencies might help. Certainly the Dogecoin 'experiment' suggests that it might be possible. I have reached no conclusions yet, but it is interesting to ponder.

  Posted on August 5, 2014 at 5:43 PM
  Last Edited: August 5, 2014 at 5:44 PM
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• deweller

  

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  Location: Nashville, TN

  The more I think about this, the more I realize that we are building a lot of this right here.

  The LTB community is an evolutionary step toward this.

  The reason I brought up the privacy part is that the business models of social networks rely on them knowing a lot about you. They are motivated to find out more about you and serve you very targeted advertising.

  With a different business model, perhaps we could build a social network that was better aligned with the best interests of its users.

  And yes, @RockHoward, I agree online social networks are often full of many, shallow relationships and few deep ones.

  Just thinking. Thanks for your thoughts.

  Posted on August 6, 2014 at 8:28 PM
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