This is very important:
Steemit is not Steem!!!
Steemit is not Steem!!!
Steemit is not Steem!!!
We need to write this down 100 times so we remember.
Not only is there confusion about this. There also seems to be some debate.
For those who are unaware, Steemit (steemit.com) is a private company that employs people who develop the code for the blockchain. It also was the first User Interface on the STEEM blockchain. Thus far, it is still the flagship application.
My problem with what I am seeing is that too many are unaware that this is blockchain. That means our goal is decentralization. It is what we strive for. Yet, consistently, I see more people acting like they want things centralized.
Steemit is moving towards single focus. On the Witness call the other day, @andrarchy plainly stated that the organization feels the resources are best spent on blockchain development and that is all. They are not going to spend time updating Steemit.com. Their outlook is applications are best done by the outside developers on this blockchain.
I agree completely. Steemit does not need to focus on that application. In fact, we need to move away from it as much as possible.
The reason is simple: DECENTRALIZATION
We do not need Steemit involved in any more than is necessary.
Another area that I see calls for Steemit to step up is in the area of marketing. This is pure insanity. Why do people want Steemit to do marketing? What do they think will be marketed? Blockchain? Who is going to market a blockchain?
Ergo, if Steemit did any marketing, it would be to drive traffic to....Steemit.com.
Steemit is no more STEEM than Facebook is the Internet. Yet people seem to make this link. In fact, I saw one of the primary FB/YT promoters using the terms "steemit". Is that who he is employed by?
The fact of the matter, we just saw a major step in decentralization. Hard Fork 20 gave the applications the ability to sign up users. This is a huge milestone. Before that, evey sign up had to be through Steemit.com. That make the entire process centralized.
Now, with the ability to bring their own users into the ecosystem, the applications are in better position cater to them.
I see many alluding to Steemit not caring about user sign up. Well, when the sign up process is manual and takes forever, why should they? They knew it was changing.
There are also concerns that they do not care about user retention. At this point, why should they? They are developing the blockchain. Does the company building the road care about the customer satisfaction ratings of the automobile manufacturers? Not likely. It is the applications who are going to have to focus upon user retention.
Steemit is moving towards being responsible for the code that is given to the Witnesses for the blockchain. That is all. While this still has some centralization to it, having too many cooks in the kitchen messing with the base layer probably is not a great idea either.
Their interface is outdated and plain. Overall, @busy and @steempeak are better interfaces. Steemit.com was the first application but it is starting to hand its' position over. Here is a report from the middle of last month showing that more people accessed the blockchain using apps other than Steemit.com. I believe this was a first.
Now that the apps can sign up their own users, they are going to seek out those people who will use their applications and be active. This will translate to more activity on the blockchain. It will also INCREASE user retention. The reason I write this is because now we are dealing with those who do care about it. Those with a vested interest, the application owners/creators, will do all they can to retain those who are brought here.
Also, guess who is now ready to do the marketing? You guessed it. The same application teams.
It is in their best interest to reach outside the STEEM ecosystem and bring more users to their applications. This is no different than Facebook, YouTube, or Reddit trying to get people to sign up. They are all individual businesses with an interest in growing their enterprises.
We are finally getting to the point where we are seeing the shift from everything under the thumb of Steemit.com. Thus, it is time for people to start thinking in a decentralized manner instead of expecting Steemit to be involved in anything.
In fact, the term Steemit should rarely be uttered unless one is referring to either the development of the blockchain or the particular interface that many still use.
Another point that goes along with this is the idea that @ned should be out there front and center making the rounds. I am sorry but he is not the face of this blockchain. He is the CEO of Steemit which is handling the development of the STEEM blockchain but they are not the owners of it. STEEM requires no "face". It is a decentalized entity (well hopefully moving in that direction) with many different applications.
Instead, let the "face" of any of the individuals applications make the rounds promoting his or her particular application. We are getting passed the stage of talking about blockchain promotion, instead moving toward the applications.
Let's put @aggroed or @yabapmatt front and center talking about @steemmonsters. Or how about @heimindanger discussing all the plans for @dtube? These are the individuals who represent the applications that will be bringing in the traffic. Steemit really has little to offer in this regard.
Lastly, I want to point out even with Steemit handling the blockchain, there is still room for development that coincides with that.
A little over a month ago, @harpagon announced that anyone on the STEEM blockchain could issue their own token using a smart contract. Wait, how could that be? STEEM does not have smart contracts. Exactly.
@harpagon created a side chain that tied into the STEEM blockchain. This is different from the Smart Media Token protocol that the Steemit team is working on.
This just shows how the skills of Steemians means we can create things that even are considered in Steemit's "domain".
Speaking of Smart Media Tokens, there was a stunning statement from @fulltimegeek in his Witness video from the other day.
The entire video is worth a watch, but if you only have time for the pertinent stuff, go to about 7:23-9:00.
https://busy.org/@fulltimegeek/qni6pavb
I do not know what he has planned but did you hear what he said at the 8:58 mark.
"It's like SMTs without needing SMTs."
It will be interesting to see what he creates but here is an individual working on an idea that will help move the applications on this blockchain forward. He is trying to figure out a way to give people incentive for coming to this ecosystem.
Once again, it is an individual who is outside of Steemit.
Personally, the path is pretty clear to me. Decentralization is the only way to go and that means we need to focus more effort and attention upon the applications. Steemit still has a purpose but we must do everything in our power to lessen its' influence. All the power in the hands of a centralized organization puts everything at risk.
Besides, the potential of Steemit is rather limited; the potential of this blockchain is incredible.
Steemit is not Steem!!!
If you found this article informative, please give it an upvote and resteem.
This was very informative. Davedickey was just explaining to me about busy. He posts the morning bowl in busy. This is an eye opener for sure.
STEEM the blockchain is easily confused with STEAM the famos game distibution site. So I'm frequently using word steemit to describe steem, just to avoid confusion with people who didn't heard of STEEM but using STEAM. Even if I know that blockchain is an open back-end for as many front ends as needed, and steemit.com is just a front end.
Uh. STEEM it's just a horrible, confusing name for this blockchain (((
I guess you've moved beyond misleading boosterism to flat-out lies. I have no idea why you're doing this but you need to stop.
What would make that a lie?
Before HF20 there was a single process for creating new blockchain accounts which was equally available to all users. Besides Steemit there were six or seven services for account creation, plus the ability for users to create directly through utilities like SteemConnect and Steem-Python. The fact that Steemit did the majority of creation is because no one else chose to do it on a large scale, not because they had any special ability.
After HF20 there is a two-class system, whereby large SP holders are able to create "discounted accounts" - though they're somewhat more expensive than the previous creation system - and everyone else is able to create accounts by burning 3 Steem - considerably more expensive than the previous creation system.
This is less decentralized than the previous system because it privileges large SP holders and increases the costs of account creation.
You are correct about the first part. I should have specific a free account through Steemit. There were other options that one could pay for.
Excellent post, people really need to start understanding that. Steemit is the centralized initial roll out platform to bring attention to the blockchain.
The “poor UX” is by design. There’s so many lowhanging fruits which could be picked by improving condenser but it isn’t done on purpose. And that’s right.
One thing I except from Steemit Inc though, as they are the largest vested player and [cough]specific early mining[cough] they should start thinking about hackathons all over the world.
That will also benefit them, due to how vested they are.
This is just great. It's one of the best things that can happen to STEEM.
Hi @taskmaster4450,
We really hope we can create accounts soon with our app @share2steem. With such a feature we really could bring mass people to Steem, I'm sure about it. But we need SP for that (even if I'm not worried about this).
Anyway I fully agree with you !
What is the best way to be using @share2steem right now? Should we be waiting? Or full @steem ahead?
You can use share2steem right now, we are just at the beginning of the adventure. You can also use our referral program to promote the service. If more people use it, we will be able to give better rewards.
Yes SP is related to account creation so it is going to require a significant delegation to be able to do it. Some of the applications have achieved this, others have not.
We will have to see how it pans out if the RC for that changes or if it is locked in.
Thanks for that post :) The big amount of Apps and sites is what makes Steem that powerfull. I think the domination of Steemit will decrease with more and more Apps launching.
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SteemIt? That Ugly Green Monster? I use Busy.org instead.
Ever since they changed from the old beautiful blue skin to the new ugly green one, I only use SteemIt.com to interact with the Internal Market. Nothing else.
The momentum is starting to build as more users explore the ecosystem outwards. The great Dapps being built will get users more integrated into the system with seamless transactions with the blockchain. I hope this ultimately leads to decentralization for the coding as well as Steemit Inc should not have absolute power over that either in the long run.
HUMMM.... You gave me a big thinking...
If Steemit Inc do not care about user retention, onboarding or developing the Steemit interface - where do you think their revenue will be coming from?
There is little point expanding and developing the road unless the government is footing the bill or users are paying a toll.
Somewhere along the line the app and blockchain developers are going to need to introduce external revenue streams from advertisers etc. SMTs and side chains are good - but we can't print ourselves into prosperity.
Steem (the decentrised blockchain) has a lot of potential - the question remains how developers, including Steemit.Inc can generate income from it outside of the reward pool - though Steem Monsters is giving it a good crack.
SirKnight.
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Steemit did just delegate 2M SP to Oracle-d, which is one group looking to bring investment into the ecosystem.
This is good news - thanks taskmaster.
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@SirKnight,
If your have been reading steemit posts you will be told ad nauseum that:
what matters seems to be the number of transactions so that the blockchain can prosper and not the community that the blockchain is built upon. now we have several sub-communities that are trying to retain users but their problem is the same as that of Steemit!
i agree with you that a philosophy of "build it and they will come" is wishful thinking. Better for Steemit to have focussed on a single dapp to begin with and make it wildly successful
If they said this it was probably in relation to newbies with no SP leaving due to RCs. I agree with this part of it. Afterall, McDonalds doesn't give away its burgers for free.
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So true!
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What about STEEM functioning as a currency? Who is responsible? All major exchanges that have STEEM wallets have broken wallets. No STEEM can transfer in or out of those exchanges.
If STEEM stops functioning as a currency then what is the incentive to use STEEM apps?
There still needs to be a centralized entity that communicates with exchanges. If Steemit Inc is only going to focus on software, then STEEM is going to die.
That is a part of the updating process. Anytime they change the code they are causing a change with the wallets. I would think it is up to them to work with the exchanges, at a minimum, to ensure the transition goes smoothly.
As we know, there were issues with the communication about the Hard Fork...that needs to be improved a great deal.
Wallets on exchanges were down a full week before the hard fork. The problem is getting worse and not better. When STEEM wallets are frozen on exchanges, they can be stuck for months or never recover.
Exactly. I would say that is in the arena of what STEEM has to tend to.
My point is they shouldnt be messing with marketing and the interface while overlooking the exchanges.
Very nice post...in future we will see more and more app to use the platform.
with all that has been said, steemit.com is the only site/app that works on my phone. personally, I feel we are forcing this suppose change. Secondly, the time and resources spent to bring in new users via the different dapps can be pulled together to move the blockchain forward. thats why firms/organisations consolidate. we do not want a situation where we have too many dapps that are ineffective. So I am not completely in support of decentralising the blockchain, well, in some aspect, yes but holistically, I don't feel we are big enough for some of the things we are gunning for. i will pick a strong center than weak branches any day. Also Steem inc is the backbone of most of these dapps as it supports them with delegation, so i dont know why the resource cannot be used to promote steem/steemit
Have you tried @partiko on your phone?
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Thanks for mentioning us!
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I am not a mobile users but there is esteem, dsteem, and parkito.
Parkito has been getting rave reviews and a lot using. I do not know if it is only Android or also IOS.
this is an amazing article 👍
i've always been saying steem needs to be decentralized from steemit inc in order to hit the mainstream. but what you wrote here is a much more detailed and thorough explanation as to why.
when one man dictates all the hf and a few whales control most of the rewards distribution, it's not even a crypto and a blockchain. it's just another facebook knockoff.
'wisdom of the crowd' (using ned's own words) is not being utilized here. the collective effort has so much potential than a dictatorship.
i'm still waiting for decentralization of the steem blockchain.
That won't change until the total steem is more widely distributed. The witnesses need to authorize hardforks but the are elected using sp which is in the hands of a few right now. Until the numbers balance more towards the majority then this won't change.
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Well now it becomes chicken and egg. I dont think steem will be that much widely accepted unless decentralization is there :)
That's what we will have to see. It should be an interesting few years.
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I dont follow. One man doesnt control the HFs. In fact, the Steemit accounts, that I looked up, along with @ned dont even vote on witnesses.
I am wondering if half of steemians comprehend this reality.
I mean if you buy #steem I betcha.
I will not reiterate the value of your post.
I think the education towards cryptocurrency is unlimited.
#steem proved it time to time.
Thank you for reviving this key difference between both.
I have to watch that video.
Thanks for making us steemians think a little bit more.
Keep on postin'
I used to tgink steemit was steem and I'm glad someone like you is making it clear for others. I still don't know what we'll get later but I'm sure other applications will take over.
It took me a while to find that out too :-) Steemit is not steem :-) And there is a plethora of fun things and dapps to find on Steem!
I do believe that a big step has been taken now to ease the adoption of steem to the masses...
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