Response to - "Are We Ready To Grow Hive With Topical Focused Content People Will WANT To Read?"
This post is a response to @artemislives recent post "Community AMA - Are We Ready To Grow Hive With Topical Focused Content People Will WANT To Read?"
Are we ready to engage platform wide around a globally important & probably controversial topic that people will WANT to post, read & engage about?
In my own opinion the Hive blockchain is "more directed" towards Free Speech in that the spirit of Free Speech is mostly alive in the users of the blockchain. Globally important and controversial topics relating to #politics #news #informationwar #conspiracy are alive on the chain.
Are we ready to grab the low hanging new-user fruit on the Hive marketing tree - people "out there" with a strong need to share and engage on a topic that the mainstream media is actively censoring?
No. The incentives to join here are not enough for the average person, or even the most advanced person to join. As is the case with almost all blockchain technology it largely doesn't make sense to most people. In my experience of trying to get redditors and twitter users to join Steem(pre Justin MoonLamboTM) I wasn't able to get anyone to join. I got tens of thousands of Reddit Karma from upvotes in my advocacy, got maybe 2 or 3 people inquiring about Steem at the time and once they looked into it didn't get back to me. It was too complicated to use and still is to this day.
Most people are posting on the big social media platforms because that is where everyone else is. Most people aren't really getting censored on social media ENOUGH for it to matter. There is usually some extremely minor censorship here and there and for the most part people don't mind "a bit of their posts being removed". After all, EVERYONE is on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/Reddit so THAT is where you HAVE to stay and fight. There really isn't any "fight" on this blockchain...
Could Hive host short video presentations from global thought leaders around a single issue-based topic?
That would help. Hive needs people with huge audiences to actively used it. We have have people like Stefan Molyneux and Tommy Robinson and many others use this platform as a backup to what they post. If they were to constantly promote it to their subscribers we WOULD see more people joining Hive.
Could our communities work together to support coordinated challenges during a time-limited, platform-wide focus on a single issue?
Yes :)
Could issue-based platform-wide focus shared to mainstream media serve as a niche on-boarding entry point?
I would refer back to my previous point about average people just won't come here. There is 4chan and other easier to use places where people are not censored they can readily use and already have tons of people there.
People go and watch YouTube to see who they are subscribed to. If those thought leaders and influencers and podcasters advocate and advertise Hive then there is no telling how large Hive could grow.
The failure of gaining adoption is that this place was marketed as a place for us to all come and post to. MOST people will never make a post in their lifetime, they will write comments to who they subscribe to however...
Thank you for an awesome response, @truthforce.
Your 3rd last sentence encapsulates what I would LIKE to see:
"If those thought leaders and influencers and podcasters advocate and advertise Hive then there is no telling how large Hive could grow."
I've never even HEARD of 4chan so I'm now REALLY intrigued as to what they offer that Hive doesn't. Off to have a look.
Ease of use is pivotal to everyone. Incentives are the least of anyone's concerns IMHO - if they have something real to say. They're a nice add on for people with passion.
I sometimes think we believe Hive will grow by getting more people "like us". Maybe there is the fallacy? A bit like the start up founder of most businesses is the first person who has to go to enable major growth.
Perhaps your last sentence really highlights best how Hive can grow. Thought-leaders post. Minions get paid for comments. Eventually some of the minions work out that they, too, should become through leaders.
Pondering. Appreciating your thoughts.
Oh boy, first time on 4chan? :) Its a lot of Not Safe Content for your information. Depending on what threads you are browsing through. Could see graphic things, fair warning!
I have no problem with NSFW content as long as its intelligent & provocative, as opposed to patriarchal, banal and boring. I work with sex trafficked people here in Asia which probably is why it is not anything that has crossed my path. I'm more of an Anais Nin type. ;)
Now that you've said that, it's already blown that out of the water as a viable Hive alternative for (example) serious vaccine discussion.
This is an ongoing issue and I am glad you are bringing this up from your perspective. I also see the lack of outside engagement as main obstacle in onboarding the HIVE blockchain. I helped my friend to transition to this site and the learning curve is keeping her from fully embracing all the content.
At this point, it is becoming counter-productive to preach to the choir. I do my part by posting topical content geared towards issues/comments/trends that are occurring in the matrix of faceborg/gootube. I share as much as I can of my articles/videos on these sites; slowly maybe 2-3 people have expressed interest. However, there is not a real metric that rewards or offers an on-boarding option to people who have no idea about this great site. Also, new users are somewhat misguided in their interest of crypto rewards instead of the value of the content itself. New users must find the tools to succeed more easily so that they can stay and grow with the network.
I am a bit skeptical about promoting single-topical trends approach because it can be exhausting. Maybe if there was a way for post to be more attractive places to engage despite its age and author's rank. I fear that the same people will be on top talking about topics, meanwhile the rest are piddling in anonymity.
The concept of onboarding new users isn't going to be dealt with by us anytime soon. I am literally oversaturated with digital media and use it daily for work purposes, for 10+ hours a day. I can't get enthusiastic over anything that promises a better virtual experience interacting with your friends, family and loved ones..
I like this summation - but I think only new users can find whatever idiosyncratic appeal HIVE / STEEM or any other social media platform can entice enough to get them onboard. It's not up to me or you to sell it to them.
#MSM and #SocMed is so big, centralised and nasty in its current global stranglehold state on us... it will have to be up to the individuals to make any move to a better place (for a better future?).
Can't go back in time and if I could, I would have promoted these blockchains to myself mainly. I would have tried to focus on steady articles / content more than I have for the last few years.
I feel like it's my prerogative to get the most of out these blockchains and lead by example. If nothing is pushed to the limit here with content, software & tech and activism then I can't continue using it with any interest or engagement.
I want to do so much but my time and ability to focus is so severely beaten atm. The pendulum will swing my way again though, just a little bit slower this time so I have a slight advantage trying to be the leader I want others to be here.
I share your skepticism over the promises marketed by the latest thing. I was on steemit at its onset and at that time I was also skeptical. On-boarding my online friends to this platform is a goal of my because it helps me to engage with people who are also learning along the way. I enjoy compiling information with my own take, and my opinion is geared to inspire a conversation with those who I've associated throughout my digital experience. However, I don't expect my family or most people using this platform independent of how great it is/can be (depending on your view).
That's an honorable adventure! Also, I am glad you mentioned the analogy of the pendulum it is very fitting. The more I create content here the more satisfied with removing myself from the facborg hive. I am really enjoying my digital presence in this community despite my initial difficulties.
I'm much like you, I enjoy it when I delve into it again but when i'm out of touch I find it too hard to keep up with everyone and all my notifications.
If I had to choose only one social media platform to use, it would be this one though.
Your level lowered and you are now a Red Fish!
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