Farewell Web2, Hello Web3!

Some time ago I read a great article by @behiver and was inspired to think about my own relationship with social media apps. Since I've moved my activities more and more toward Web3 I thought I should share some of my experiences and thoughts.

Doomscrolling means continually reading social media in times of distress, anticipating more bad news to come.

Throughout the years, I'm pretty sure I've been unconsciously addicted to doomscrolling as well. Feeling depressed after each session of scrolling through the garbage I decided to move on.

During the pandemic, I got rid of all the local newspaper apps, Facebook too, and stopped posting on Instagram. I was already well into the crypto sphere and wanted to spend my time learning, creating, and reading something more meaningful.

So let's see what I'm giving up and what I'm gaining instead.

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Facebook Doomscrolling Level 100: Maximum Pain

With Facebook, I always had this feeling that I'm not part of this whole thing. Why would I contribute to something that doesn't feel own? Even more so, is the content we create even our own?

At one point I noticed many of my Facebook friends posting this declaration that they own rights to everything they post online. Of course, it turned out that it mattered shit. It was just copy-pasted from somewhere and it spread like wildfire even though the rights were given to FB long ago.

By the way, have you ever been reading stuff on Facebook crypto groups such as Ethereum, Polkadot, etc? If the pandemic and war doomscrolling isn't enough for you I'd suggest trying those out. I remember feeling really bad for the newbies asking for assistance in these groups and just ended up being ridiculed. If these groups were the first glimpses into crypto space for the mainstream, then I would say we are pretty far from mass adaptation.

Imagine that 95% of Leo articles were absolute rubbish. Now would you log in daily to search for that 5%? There are good posts and comments on FB crypto groups too but they get easily lost in the noise since it's a shouting contest. These are gloomy times in crypto and that combined with IRL FUD and annoying ads makes Facebook a depressing place but also a perfect spot for a little doomscrolling.

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Instagreed: Here We Give You Nothing

On Instagram I see some local celebrities using lotions and eating some yogurt like it's the best thing in the world. That's their job and the companies are paying them to do that but in order to reach that position you will need tons of followers. In the meantime, the majority of people are also making an effort and sharing the moments of their lives for free.

source

It's a bit ironic that those same people who spend time creating stuff for Instagram are often telling me that I'm taking a huge risk with crypto and that I will lose my money. Say what? I'm not losing money, I'm making money by doing something I feel passionate about.

I feel good inside my bubble. Perhaps the eager Instapeople I know would also find it cozy here. Actually, they would probably be amazed to learn the differences between Web2 and Web3.

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The Difference

So what's the big deal? Allow me to make a little comparison between Instagram and let's say Hive, for example.

First, here's the basic media earning logic; you are watching television and companies are advertising in the middle of the show. The companies pay good money for that spot and that money is then used to pay those who make the shows. Sounds fair to me.

Web2: Now, with Instagram, you are creating content AND watching ads BUT not getting paid.

• When and how did this even happen?

Web3: On Hive you are creating content, NOT watching ads BUT getting paid.

• I'll just let that sink in.

Even if a crypto app isn't completely decentralized, it can still be much more reasonable than these Web2 social media apps mentioned. Faucets are paying you to watch ads. Brave is paying you to watch ads. Instead, hundreds of millions of people are working for these Meta apps and getting nothing. It's like virtual slavery. Amazingly, people still seem content.

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Twitter Madness

So what about Twitter? My problem with it has always been this overwhelming feeling it gives me. Usually, after a few clicks, I have completely lost myself, I get distracted from the original focus and then find myself talking to someone selling me something.

Sometimes the whole thing just looks like it's gonna explode in my face. It's like you are reading a notice on this gigantic pinboard when someone always pins another one on top of the one you were reading.

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There Is No Escaping Twitter

During the FTX meltdown, I was somewhat scared to open up my Twitter account knowing the amount of FUD and fake news there was mixing together with real ones and memes. Nevertheless, the bombardment of Twitter links kept coming from all directions.

Even though I had successfully blocked most of my 'Itoldyouso' - no-coiner friends on Whatsapp, my 20x leverage BTC shorting younger brother was on fire. He kept sending me a massive amount of Twitter links and comments through Telegram. Between the lines, I could read his excitement and see his smiling face. I guess those SBF memes seem funnier when you are up 400%.

Still, being a crypto enthusiast, it's way harder for me to escape Twitter than it is to escape FB or Instagram. And then again, why should I? I've learned a thing or two there and besides that, sometimes Twitter can be like South Park, some episodes can be really, really funny with all these crazy characters.

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Crossing A Bridge

Obviously, I'm not going to burn all the bridges. I don't believe in extremism, or that things should be either this way or that way. Twitter for example can be a good bridge between the mainstream and crypto. Between Web2 and Web3. However, on Facebook and Instagram, I just cannot see that kind of value.

When I'm thinking about the change in my social media habits, it could look something like this:

Old platform	Replaced by	Success rate
Facebook	Hive	100%
Instagram			- reading only -
Twitter	Threads	70%
Crypto news sites	LeoFinance	85%

So what have I gained through this migration? I don't want to sound like a tv-shop spokesperson but I feel much happier! I feel more inspired. My creativity has bloomed again and I don't feel like shit after using a (D)app. Instead of just numbly scrolling down miserable news, ads, and even plain hatred, I've started creating meaningful content and taking part.

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Am Inside In A Bubble?

There have been times when I've kinda faded away from socializing with my friends and sunk into my crypto activities. When explaining this I'm told that I'm living in a bubble.

So if I'm the one living inside a bubble I'm pretty happy with that. It's like that Matrix -reference thing, blue or red pill. I don't remember which one did what...was it the red one he took? I just wish I had discovered Hive sooner.

Thank you for reading!