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There has been a lot of unsavory news about Facebook and Google with sharing and selling our data for the past few months which have made users somewhat uncomfortable. More recently LinkedIn, IBO Toolbox and Steemit have been under fire. And from what I can gather all very much founded.
It may be common knowledge that LinkedIn was bought by Microsoft four months after LinkedIn’s price on the stock market plummeted 44% in a day after the company announced a lower forecast preceding a bad financial quarter, back in 2016. Before and even after the acquisition, LinkedIn’s performance has consistently been turbulent. They are known for overpriced advertising which is not user-friendly. Also, poor integration with 3rd party companies made scalability impossible to the point they had to abandon the products.
Notably, an incident occurred where a rival company had their account closed and company page removed by LinkedIn with no notification or reason. Basically, the company was de-platformed which can be seen as a huge antitrust violation. After a little tap on the shoulder by the company’s legal firm, their account was restored. Boasting about its user growth but not being able to monetize it has become a real issue for Linkedin. Perhaps they feel threatened and the need to do away with the competition.
With technology scaling, it would seem these giants are suffering even more now. It has been said that LinkedIn doesn’t innovate as it’s a monopoly. They tend to get lazy when they think they have won. And like Facebook and LinkedIn have demonstrated, there has been no care or consideration for the end user.
IBO Toolbox Is a platform for network marketers and bloggers, that are being scrutinized. It has been in operation since 2010 and has also been sold, however, the current owner is unknown. It is apparent IBOT has gone downhill since being sold. Alexa ranking was at 4000, now at nearly 70,000. IBO Toolbox has since been under fire about integrating fake traffic bots which of course will result in false traffic statistics. Good hard earned money and time down the drain along with your reputation. It is now considered a scam site by some and not to be trusted with your website or your Google Ad Sense Code. I have actually paid for advertising impressions that I have not even received, nor a reply from support regarding the issue.
Of course, all these platforms can now be seen as old technology. Due to the blockchain, we are starting to see Companies, systems, and platforms coming to the fore that are decentralized and will benefit the user in many ways. Firstly, privacy and transparency; they are more peer to peer and are not run by a centralized organization. Freedom of speech, where you will not be banned for having an opinion. Plus, providing they have viability, a complete ecosystem generating universal income is available to all users.
Steemit, a Social Media for Bloggers and creative content have recently topped 1 million users predominantly because the immutability aspect of being on the blockchain is believed to prevent any activity from users being banned or their accounts closed. This was very appealing to people who wanted a voice. Unfortunately, Steemit has recently found itself in a dilemma whereby it did ban a group known as the Dark Overlord. It had been banned from mainstream centralized Social Media, so believing Steemit may be their saving grace they shifted the group there only to find Steemit wouldn’t tolerate what they stood for either, which in the eyes of the group was “the truth”. Although this hacker group’s motives may be questionable, there has been some unrest within the community questioning the integrity of the Steemit platform and its censorship resistance since they terminated the account.
One Steemit User retorted:
“Shame, censorship is never the right path.”
Another says:
“Seriously? Now censorship?”
The thread then leads on to the theory of Steemit rolling back blocks and eventually censoring content. Due to blockchain infrastructure, this is difficult to achieve in any case. A user explains,
“There are lots of things that are theoretically possible, but trying to stir up worry about them when they are not even being discussed is basically FUD. To entertain your idea though (since it is at least theoretically possible), if we ever did get into the territory where witnesses were being forced to censor content on the blockchain itself, it is likely that you would see a “Steem and Steem Classic” (fork) type situation occur, and the data would still be available on the unedited fork.”
Over the past few years, many businesses and individuals have experienced this pattern of unethical and anti-competitive practices from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, and other centralized networks. And what we know of, include excessive surveillance, data mining, algorithm manipulation, subjective bans, inconsistent enforcement of terms and even complete de-platforming.
There are alternatives to the Oligarchs of Social Media of the last 10 or so years.
Minds.com is a blogging platform with encrypted messaging facilities built on the blockchain and has a growing user base that allows anyone to speak their mind and boost their content using its tokens. In fact, Minds is suspending their support of Google and Facebook products, even Paypal and Patreon have been removed from their monetization systems until this unethical behavior is resolved. A free open internet is their goal and they are prepared to take all steps necessary to protect the users' rights.
Markethive is a decentralized Market Network integrated with a social media interface that will definitely give the monopolies a run for their money. Built on the blockchain with its own coin (MHV) is setting the pace of a new era in how we communicate and do business online. State-of-the-art integrated inbound marketing platform, social network, artificial intelligence, business services, ewallet, coin exchange, mining datacenter, faucet lead portals, and News Media & Content Publisher for success in the crypto-preneurial and entrepreneurial markets. Markethive’s mission and objective are to pioneer “Universal Income” worldwide. To empower the novice through to the seasoned entrepreneur.
First, we had communication networks, like telephones and email. Then we had social networks, like Facebook and LinkedIn. Although it has been said Facebook has become a surveillance network masquerading as a social network.
It’s just a matter of time until nearly all independent professionals and their clients will conduct business through collaborative Market Networks and have a massive positive impact on how millions of people work and live, and how hundreds of millions of people buy and sell better services. Also be able to impart any and all information through blog casting without fear of being banned or spied upon, along with creating relationships of value and integrity.
Deb Williams
Market Manager for Markethive, a global Market Network, and Writer for the Crypto/Blockchain Industry. Also a strong advocate for technology, progress, and freedom of speech. I embrace "Change" with a passion and my purpose in life is to help people understand, accept and move forward with enthusiasm to achieve their goals.
Published at https://zycrypto.com/numerous-social-media-platforms-make-headlines/
