This event was hosted on July 9th during the ETHCC 2024 side event, the Web3 Social Day, organized by Mask Network, Lens Protocol and SendingMe.

The panel “Decentralized Social vs Web3 Social” featured:

• Fiatjaf, the protocol author of Nostr
• Wouter Constant, a Nostr researcher
• Limone.eth, the founder of ETHRome
• Eric, a distributed networking engineer at Codex
• Shane Gaffney, the community lead at sending.me

Suji Yan, the founder of Mask Network, moderated the discussion.

Executive Summary

The panel discussion on Decentralized Social versus Web3 Social highlighted the distinct approaches and challenges faced by various platforms. Key themes included the importance of censorship-resistant data storage, user data ownership, and the need for interoperability to avoid centralization. While the current stage of decentralized social networks is still in its infancy, with much foundational work needed, there is optimism for significant growth and adoption in the coming years. The discussions underscored the necessity of building robust infrastructure and user-friendly applications to drive the next phase of Web3 social evolution.

Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion

Background of Protocols and Products, and the Impact of VC Backing

Suji began by introducing the background of each protocol and application. Nostr, created by Fiatjaf, is notable for receiving donations from Jack Dorsey and key Bitcoin contributors. Other protocols and applications discussed have varying degrees of venture capital backing.

Nostr, a straightforward protocol, leverages asymmetric cryptography to ensure message integrity through public and private keys. It also standardizes data formatting using JSON and establishes a simple communication standard between computers. Initially supported by a small community and later through the OpenSats Foundation, Nostr gained significant momentum with Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin donation.

Codex focuses on building a data storage network emphasizing data durability, censorship resistance, and privacy. Effective decentralized applications require such decentralized data storage to prevent censorship, a problem Codex aims to solve.

Limone.eth highlighted his work on Farcaster, an app built on a protocol he admires despite its VC backing. He noted the diverse strategies in the Web3 space, ranging from community-led to protocol-led approaches.

Sending.me, an all-in-one messenger supporting Ethereum and Bitcoin networks, was founded by the CEO of Dolphin Browser. The transition to Web3 for Sending.me stemmed from a desire to create a platform immune to centralization constraints.

Core Problems Addressed by Decentralized Social Platforms

The panelists addressed the fundamental issues their platforms aim to solve. Codex emphasized the necessity of censorship-resistant data storage for decentralized applications. Centralized data storage can easily be disrupted, undermining decentralization efforts. Shane Gaffney from Sending.me stressed the importance of user data ownership, arguing against both government and corporate exploitation of personal data. Users should have control over their data and the choice to monetize it if they wish.

Handling Government Regulation and Service Provider Interference

Addressing the challenge of potential government regulation and service provider interference, the panelists provided a variety of perspectives. Limone.eth suggested accepting compromises while ensuring that critical communication nodes can operate independently if mainstream services are disrupted. Fiatjaf of Nostr argued that striving for absolute content availability leads to a controlled environment contrary to decentralization principles. Instead, Nostr focuses on avoiding centralized control. Wouter Constant discussed the need for interoperability rather than creating a centralized global state. He pointed out that complex protocols could inadvertently lead to centralization by making it difficult for multiple parties to implement them independently.

User Base and Infrastructure Development in Decentralized Social Apps

The discussion also touched on the user base of decentralized social apps. Eric from Codex highlighted the misconception that data stored on IPFS is inherently permanent, stressing the need for incentives to maintain data. Limone.eth observed that while many are building infrastructure, the focus should shift to simple applications that attract users. Starting with end-user applications can guide the development of practical infrastructure. Shane Gaffney emphasized the importance of seamless and accessible applications. The functionality and user experience of decentralized apps should be prioritized to ensure broader adoption. Wouter Constant cautioned against the complexity of protocols, which can lead to a single party dominating implementation. Simplicity is essential to maintain true openness and decentralization.

Current Stage of Decentralized and Web3 Social Networks

The panelists assessed the current stage of decentralized and Web3 social networks on a scale from 1 to 10.

Wouter Constant rated it as 1, emphasizing that we are at the beginning of a significant paradigm shift. Integrating public-private keys into society will take generations. Eric suggested a rating of 2 or 3, noting that substantial investment and infrastructure development are needed to accelerate progress. Once the core layers are established, development will likely speed up exponentially. Limone.eth rated adoption as 1 or 2 but acknowledged technological advancements at a 3 or 4. He anticipates more inspiration and motivation to build on existing protocols. Shane Gaffney agreed, rating it 3 or 4. He predicted significant growth over the next decade and expected a much higher rating five years from now.