Harsh critics of popular social media platforms claim that censorship and data misuse are driving the need for alternatives. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, in particular, has raised concerns about networking and digital communication
These concerns have ushered in decentralized options like Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff, Transmitted by Relays). While the tool is not a social media platform, it provides infrastructure for developers to build censorship-resistant applications via relays.
On Nostr, relays are backend servers that allow users to store and share posts and messages. Those who connect to multiple relays have the assurance that they remain in control over their data if relays go down.
Understanding Nostr
Those with an account on an application supported by Nostr can also build their relays. The Nostr code is available on GitHub with a sister repository providing resources for users to understand the protocol, access clients (social media platforms), and run relays.
Nostr developers also hope to offer additional Bitcoin and Lightning Network functionality to help mitigate denial-of-service attacks. For example, the NVote platform requires users to make a Lightning payment to change their user names.
What’s made Nostr stand out in a vast decentralized world? Interestingly enough, the support from a noted titan of the traditional social media industry.
In December 2022, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey announced that he had donated 14 Bitcoin to Nostr’s anonymous founder’ @fiatjaf.’ Around the same time, Dorsey explained he planned to give $1 million yearly to the Signal messaging application.
Nostr’s also attracted the attention of Edward Snowden, who Tweeted, “Unlike the old social media ‘platforms’ where the platform-owner (FB, Tiktok, Twitter) gets to decide who can speak—and what can be heard—#nostr is an open protocol.”
Dorsey gave another $5 million to Nostr in May 2023. Some found the move curious since he also gave $13 million to the decentralized social media project Bluesky when he was still in charge at Twitter.
Still, the infusion of cash has helped Nostr make big waves.
Recent improvements have helped with network access and opened up options for users to send Bitcoin. As of late May 2023, the “500,000 daily Nostr users have sent each other 792,000 tiny bitcoin transactions called zaps, worth $1.9 million, with dozens of companies building new applications.”
What Future Does Nostr Have In The Social Media Landscape?
Nostr shares a core purpose with many other social media technologies, focusing on broadcasting and sharing information. However, its development-focused architecture sets it apart from other platforms.
Nostra is censorship-resistant as it’s not controlled by one entity and has no centralized server structure (like Facebook or Twitter).
Users often share that they feel more self-autonomous with the technology but note that the project’s grassroots nature and the no-frills UX might make for a significant learning curve for those accustomed to the sleek designs of traditional social media tools.
Questions about future growth also make Nostr’s path uncertain. As of late May 2023, only those admitted by @fiatjaf have the right to edit the Github repository, which only amounted to about seven people. While the small number of people has not stopped about 7,500 developers from building relays to support the network, some question if the reliance on @fiatjaf and a core group will lead to a centralized structure that could lead people away.
Overall, many within the crypto community and well-known figures like Dorsey and Snowden have shown an affinity for Nostr, making the tool one of the most well-known and promising decentralized social media options.
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