Hi everyone this is @shreyas99 & I’m a startups and crypto enthusiast. I love to explore how these have disrupted and changed the world. However invention of new technology and its actual adoption are two distinguishable cycles, spanning decades sometime (wheeled suitcases took 2). 

Through this blog I would be exploring how a certain tech product/ service can bridge this gap faster. In context of why I decided to choose this platform, let's have a look at how social media is evolving.


![TheSocialMediaRaceForDecentralizationblockchain24.co_.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmW3xDFbrMbUUjUUz8NknzCCjgCfC8oZG2p3kRVzZNRkoe/The-Social-Media-Race-For-Decentralization-blockchain24.co_.jpg)
[Source](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.blockchain24.co/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Social-Media-Race-For-Decentralization-blockchain24.co_.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.blockchain24.co/the-social-media-race-for-decentralization/&tbnid=Zg4vSUiP9On0IM&vet=1&docid=6gnpFN7jsG1skM&w=1140&h=620&itg=1&source=sh/x/im)

As mass media began to develop information could be easily spread and by extension ideas. Ideas by their very nature, good or bad, are disruptive to the existing order. So governing entities have chosen to regulate the flow of the same to keep their power intact. This was implemented either through carefully disguised regulations or outright censorship for all of mass media. Besides, monetization options were limited. And therefore the barrier of entry was high and only big media players with parent companies/ government associations survive in the market. So even though free speech is ingrained in our laws, the reality is that no sensible media house would risk their existence for disruptive ideas making the market effectively an oligopoly.

Now during the mid 2000s, a wave of social media platforms started picking up. These along with improvements in recording tech (think smartphone cameras) allowed anyone to become a media entity without the high costs or regulatory laws. Combine these with direct monetization options and we've got smaller creators creating more personalized & niche content unheard of before. Finally the attention economy was completely democratized. Or was it? There's a small problem with the above being that the platform was still centrally owned. Now the governments can draw up laws to regulate these platforms. Or in case of immunities like section 230 these platforms end up having more soft power than regulators. They take up that place with heavily regulated monetization/ censorship to control the content. 

This proves how centralization is going to inevitably end up creating quasi fascistic entities like the Big tech of today. One solution lies in the removal of the central entity by using decentralized blockchain that allows for ownership by the community. Any necessary regulations can be built into the code/spread over community to minimize biases associated with centralized regulation. The absence of a central entity, makes the system impervious to regulations/ takedowns from regulators just like Bitcoin. Monetization through crypto economics is another way of building up community engagement. It makes the creators and curators partners in the growth of the platform, similar to how employee stock options (ESOPs) work. 

This upcoming decade would be defined by the themes of decentralization, democratization and community involvement. Decentralized platforms of today match up on the above parameters with varying levels of centrality. To answer the question at the beginning, joining this platform is a good way to explore the side of being a part of this community and contribute to it.

History does not directly repeat, although the trends are often cyclical. Similar to the analysis above, through, my upcoming posts I would be exploring more specific case studies and see if we can draw insights for future platforms/networks for succeeding on the Web 3.0.

Feel free to recommend similar case studies related to this in the comments.

If you found the post informative, please upvote.

Posted Using [LeoFinance <sup>Beta</sup>](https://leofinance.io/@shreyas99/my-introduction-post-on-leofinance)