Privacy, truth and censorship : how blockchain could transform social media platforms

Abstract

Social media platforms have been criticized for their handling of user data, the dissemination of disinformation and the lack of transparency when censoring content. This has never been more true than during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a surge in social media usage and simultaneously highlighted serious user issues when relying on these platforms, especially in terms of disinformation and censorship. As blockchain technology continues to gather momentum through the popularity of cryptocurrencies and NFTs, its application in different sectors of everyday life is also continuously being considered. One potential application is that within the social media platform industry. This study explores the ways blockchain technology can impact different problematic processes currently executed on different platforms. Expert interviews highlight that at this stage blockchain technology does not have the capacity to facilitate content or personal data on a fully decentralized network. Rather, it is more suited to decentralize certain aspects of centralized platforms, such as curation algorithms and consent giving. It can also act as a ledger which indicates credibility of sources, which although still subjective, can lead users to making a better informed decision when interacting with content. An online survey shows that the sample of Maltese participants are aware of issues of trust in social media platforms and wish to see change. However, education on blockchain technology and its use cases is limited to the point that most users do not yet see its application in the social media platform context.