Censorship-resistant protocols like Nostr offer true digital sovereignty, but user onboarding remains a significant hurdle compared to traditional platforms.
My take:
- Reliance on public/private key management, relay fragmentation, and lack of algorithm-driven discovery prevent average web2 users from transitioning.
- However, native Lightning monetization (zaps) and true protocol-level identity ownership make it the only sustainable long-term model for freedom of speech.
Do you think protocol-level social media will break into the mainstream within 5 years, or will it remain an elite playground for tech-savvy stackers? Share your take below! 👇
niche and irrelevant. Unfortunately :/
I think Nostr is just like Bitcoin—suited only for a select few. After nearly 20 years, Bitcoin is still used by less than 5% of the global population. And in the short time Nostr has been around, there are still many users who are in the process of migrating from surveillance platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram).
I'll go with the second option; these platforms are mostly for enthusiasts.
Yes to mainstream, but adoption won't look like most expect... people wont be downloading Nostr specific apps, setting up bunkers etc.
Most won't even know they use it any more than they know they use SMTP when they send an email.
You use email not because it's the best messaging protocol, but because of its network effect. Shitcoiners too don't understand this re: Bitcoin, it's not about the chain with the most "features" or speed.
Nostr gives developers of apps instant network effects, not just of individual users, but of tools and interoperability. That's only accelerated by
AISI causing apps to be cloned or iterated on faster, leading moats to evaporate.People with sign in with ______ (powered by nostr) just as they sign in with Google Auth/Apple Auth/Facebook auth to apps now... and the data behind those apps will be portable/reusable unlike a dump from a proprietary platform. Nostr will be the table-stakes back-end.