Interviewed by Verdict on whether decentralised apps will disrupt Big Tech social media.
The Piece
Verdict explored the rise of decentralised apps (dApps) like Bluesky and Mastodon as alternatives to mainstream platforms. The piece examined data privacy concerns, Musk’s Twitter acquisition fallout, and whether Big Tech’s revenue models are genuinely threatened.
My Take
People are growing tired of companies using and abusing their data, serving them content they’re not interested in. Users moving to platforms like Bluesky are seeking ownership of their data and an experience they can curate themselves—rather than having “the algorithm” deliver content they disagree with or find offensive.
But I don’t think Big Tech revenue is genuinely at risk. Many users can’t migrate unless their communities move with them. Meta already has a monopoly over family usage. And companies adapt quickly.
What’s actually happening? Users unhappy with X or Facebook are returning to existing “alternative” platforms. Long-standing sites like Tumblr are seeing a resurgence—the mass exodus of artists to Twitter after Tumblr’s 2018 content policy changes has essentially reversed now that both platforms have updated policies.
Reddit is also seeing a return of flash news and on-the-ground reporting, driven by the changes Musk made to how news is presented on X and the views now being promoted there. Longtime Twitter users found themselves on a new site that made them feel vulnerable posting.
Read the Full Article
Will Decentralised Apps Disrupt the Social Media Business? — Verdict