Virtual Interactions going Off-Grid - with Social Media Tokenization and Blockchain

By AX17 | figurehowtowrite | 15 Nov 2023

Attention is a finite and exceedingly valuable resource available to us daily. To me, dedicating undivided attention to someone, even briefly or during conversations, represents the epitome of politeness. Each morning, we wake up with a full tank of attention, and the challenge lies in distributing it judiciously throughout the day. Attention does not replenish, yet we often scatter it as if it were limitless.

The value of attention is evident in advertising, where brands vie for it, seeking audiences capable of capturing attention. The rise of social media has underscored the significance of attention more than ever. The adage holds true that in the realm of free social media usage, the product is you—your attention, interests, and more.

Although advertising is not a novel concept, it is increasingly clear that ads cannot exist without people. Simply pushing more ads is no longer sufficient, and major companies like Facebook have already introduced user fees for their services.

While human nature remains fundamentally unchanged, shifts in advertising behavior and online social media raise questions about how people will respond. Will they pay fees for social media interaction? This seems unlikely, particularly in the current global economic climate. Socialization has historically been free for the majority, with fees typically reserved for select groups or clubs.

However, the question arises: Why should socialization be free online when we pay fees in real life for community contributions, taxes, and street cleaning? Social media networks, akin to real-life streets, serve as platforms for daily human interactions and socializing.

Though times change, and evolution occurs, the core human nature remains constant. Humans still yearn for nurturing communities, echoing the practices of our ancestors. The current global social and economic crisis has prompted a return to alternative lifestyles, with individuals embracing tiny homes, mobile homes on unconventional land, and off-grid living—a pursuit of freedom reminiscent of our roots.

This endeavor to preserve freedom and deviate from the financially-driven living model imposed by modern standards reflects a fundamental human need for freedom and sustainable community interactions—a human right.

On the online front, we witness a parallel trend with the advent of web3 and the tokenization of social media. Instead of paying brands to vie for attention, individuals can choose how, where, and when to channel their online engagement, receiving rewards in return. The tokenization of social media intrigues me, and I believe it represents the ultimate step in making blockchain mainstream.

When people use decentralized social media as seamlessly as electricity, Facebook, or YouTube today, that will mark the full mainstream potential of blockchain. In the coming weeks, I will explore further into the tokenization of social media topic on next articles.

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