Steemit.com Isn't Big enough for all of us!
Hey guys,
So I have been recently enlightened by all the innovative front-end applications for the steemblock chain. There is Dmania, Steepshot, Busy.org, MSP STEEM and more and more popping up each month!
It's so great to see all these new applications adopting the STEEM BLOCKCHAIN but with such varying degrees of content creation and themes how can we all fit in the same space. To put something in perspective, Posting a single meme image (not original) on STEEMIT.COM will most likely result in a flag or at the very least no UPVOTES... On Dmania that is 90% of content published. The trouble begins though when Front End Publishes like Dmania and Steepshot submit to the blockchain there is no universal method of seperating it out from other Front End Applications. In short, Your non-original memes or FOOD porn snaps will end up on STEEMIT.com where they can be judged, flagged or critiqued unfairly by steemit users. Simply because this sort of content is (in their view) inappropriate for the steemit platform.
In reality, your content is 100% appropriate in the Front End Application where you have posted It but completely inappropriate in other front-end applications that display the STEEMBlockchain information.
Diversity is Good
like in most facets of society, diversity brings in change, innovation and discovery. There is no reason why this should not extend to the STEEM Blockchain as well. Improving the audience participation on the blockchain will benefit all users, regardless of their Front-End application. If you are already on Steemit you must in some way believe in the power of decentralization and therefore see the potential in the technology. Imagine if the biggest social media platforms migrated over to STEEM. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more could help bolster and strengthen the Blockchain to heights we couldn't imagine. Unfortunately, this can not happen without an open and non-judgmental audience or curation pool. Filtering gives users the ability to acknowledge the diversity of content platforms, and respectfully separate their user experience form it. The content will always be there, and they are always welcome to use their account on that platform if they want but the most important thing is there will be no animosity and conflict between the platforms.
How to fix the issue
Front End Platforms must provide an OPTION (very important that its not forced) where steemit Users can automatically filter out posts based on their META Data. In particular the Author Application. This would allow for users to voluntarily opt out of seeing other platforms posts on their feed if they choose. It would also mean users of other platforms such as DMANIA and STEEPSHOT do not get unfairly flagged or punished due to their content submissions.
Already these newer platforms provide a non-voluntary filtering of results that in my opinion limit their appeal. Having some censored material forcefully removed is, in my opinion, going against the very ethos of decentralization and blockchain technology. The action MUST be up to the individual, by removing their right to have a choice, the application contradicts the free market transparency environment that the STEEM BLOCKCHAIN endures to create.
The Future
With more and more front-end applications coming to STEEM and many more predicted after the release of the SMTs it is imperative that the developers prepare now for a more diverse and congested marketplace. Failure to do so will result in a volatile experience for the users on either platform. This filtration could also lead to developments in spam prevention and identification.
I, therefore, urge any developer reading this to consider implementing a front-end filtration service that voluntarily allows users to opt out of receiving content that impacts, impairs or contradicts their user experience on your platform.
Some examples of content diversity
Please note these samples were randomly picked from the top of my feed and do not portray a particular quality, standard or theme.
| Post from Steemit |
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| Considered to be the original Steem Front End and widely used by blogging and crypto enthusiasts. The level of analytical detail is generally high and content curation is most usually based around blogs of over 150 words. |
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| Users are often penalized for posting low-quality content or plagiarised text and images |
| Post from Dmania |
|---|
| Refered to as Dmaniacs this Front-End focuses purely on posting satirical and humorous images and video clips. This platform does not have any option to include text, captions or blurbs. The input is for an image/video, tags, and title. |
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| Users are encouraged to post funny memes original or not. There is no culture of penalization or policing of content. Generally, all users are here for light-hearted fun. |
| Post from Steepshot |
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| The Instagram clone for the STEEM Blockchain, this front-end only allows for Single image posts with a title, tags and small description (max 2000 characters). The platform is emphasized for use on mobile phones and has a developed android application already. The application makes migrating to the steem blockchain easier for Instagram users who regularly share images of their daily life. |
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| The quality and originality of the content is yet to be determined as its still relatively unknown. Some users are achieving 1000 fold returns in Single Image posts on this platform compared to the same post on the Steemit Platforms. As of yet, there is no policing or penalizing culture yet. |
Disclaimer. I will be posting this post on several platforms in order to:
- Guage the response of the post on each platform
- Test what filters exist.
- circumnavigate the existing platform filters
- hopefully not upset anyone by doing so.
- If you have a problem with this please contact me via discord @Digital_dude [nathenial]#0305
This is the Post submitted via the MSP Steem Platform Interface.