LinkedIn recently released their 41 Big Ideas that will change our world in 2023. I totally agree with number 21 which says social media users will turn their back on the algorithm.
I'll tell you why I feel that way, but first, watch this YouTube video about what you can learn from a pencil. It's less than two minutes.
4 Lessons Learned From a Pencil
For a pencil to be useful, from time to time it must go through a resharpening. If the pencil could feel, we can just imagine how painful that would be, but that's what it takes to be a useful pencil. Life is much the same. Painful experiences and challenges confront us all, but it's through these opportunities that we build character and we grow.
We'll be able to correct many of the mistakes we make along the way, just like an eraser. So if we learn from our mistakes, their not really mistakes at all, just lessons learned.
Just like a pencil, every place you find yourself, you leave your mark. You are the protagonist in your own story. You are the author and only you have the final say.
The most important part of you is what's inside of you.
My Web3 Journey
I had to reflect on those four things because my journey into web3 came from a place of pain. The time is March 2020 and while the world was dealing with global pandemic, I was dealing with that and something else at the exact same time.
I'd worked for the federal government for nearly 28 years. I'd always been a stellar employee and went above and beyond every single day. I actually loved my government job and couldn't wait for Monday mornings.
But in March 2020, I began to be harassed and bullied every day by my manager. It was relentless. I experienced panic attacks, I began eating so much comfort food to cope that I gained 40 pounds. I developed several cavities, had to have a root canal amongst other dental problems. I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned all night for months. I suffered from extreme constipation, developed hemorrhoids, and as if that wasn't enough, my hair fell out and I now have bald spots. I went to the doctor and had a hair biopsy - I never knew that was a thing and it confirmed that the loss was due to the extreme stress I was under at work.
I experienced this vile treatment for two years. But through it all, I continued to show up to work and did my job. At a time when quiet quitting would've been justified, I did not quiet quit. I will never allow someone else to dictate to me how I will behave in life. My employer tried to break me, but like Beyonce, I Am Unbreakable.
Of course, whenever you experience trauma, your mind and body keeps a record of it. So even though I continued to perform my work duties my mental health was suffering big time. After taking some time to heal, I began to prioritize my mental health and created a resource that would help other women of color who were experiencing something similar.
Intro into Web3
At about the same time, I became curious about web3, so I started to devour everything I could about this new emerging technology. I was first mesmerized by NFTs and the many use cases. I read every news article, blog, and white paper I could to understand it. I wanted to be an NFT consultant at first, but as I began to read more, I discovered decentralized social and the DeSo Blockchain. The DeSo community is one of the most welcoming in web3.
CeSo vs. DeSo
Web2 Centralized Social media (CeSo) collects and sells the data we voluntarily input on social media platforms which ultimately increases their revenue. As a result, data and privacy issues remain a constant.
Web3 Decentralized Social media (DeSo) puts the power back in the hands of the creators. DeSo has forced the conversation around censorship, privacy, data protection, creator ownership, monetization, algorithmic choice and transparency.
That's why I believe that social media users will flock to decentralized social in 2023. There are quite a few to choose from, but I believe DeSo will be the clear winner because it puts the creator first.
Creators deserve more than a like.
Creators deserve to get paid for their content.
Creators deserve to own their social graph.
Creators deserve transparency.
Creators deserve a caring community.
Creators get all of the above and more with DeSo.
The reason why I love DeSo much is that it empowers the creator. It allows users to earn money without having to rely on likes or followers. Yes, you heard that right, whether you're a freelancer, a business owner, or simply looking for extra income, DeSo offers an intuitive, easy-to-use platform that pays users based on the quality of their content rather than the number of likes they receive.
DeSo believes that you, the creator, should be able to monetize your content without having to worry about if you're liked. DeSo is an innovative platform that allows users to make money from their content by getting paid directly from their supporters. Users simply post their content like they would on any other social platform, but when they do, they can get paid. In order to get paid on YouTube for instance, you have to meet the 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours before you earn a penny. Not so with DeSo. You can start immediately earning by simply posting your content. Yes, simply post and earn. No other platform even comes close and now with their Twitter integration, you can finally monetize every tweet.
Why store your content on-chain?
You can earn income for every Tweet you post via DeSo tips, and much more…
Your content becomes censorship-resistant, meaning you can’t be de-platformed!
You become a part of a vibrant, close-knit community.
You're no longer chasing "likes" but are actually getting paid
Join DiamondApp today!
Just like a pencil, we've all experienced some pain when it comes to CeSo, but we can correct our mistakes by checking out DeSo. By embracing web3, you won't completely abandon web2, just like a pencil, you have left your mark, but the most important thing now is when will you start? The tech is here, will you bury your head in the sand or will you embrace this new cultural demand?
I read a very compelling essay that was written in 2017 by NYT Best-Selling Author Marshall Karp. It's a must read for anyone afraid of even trying DeSo. This essay is about more than just changing careers, it's about that young person you let screw up your life and what you need to do now to change it before its too late.
Learn more about DeSo on deso.com