How decentralized apps could change social networks for the better
We’re going to be seeing more and more of stuff like the newly launched Twitter-style microblogging app called Damus, which is now available on Apple’s App Store after undergoing testing.
Damus uses a decentralized protocol called Nostr (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays), a network based on cryptographic key pairs, which is not peer-to-peer, and is very simple to use and easily scalable. After downloading the app, you can create a profile, choose a user name, add a photo and a background from a server, and post updates (not limited to 280 characters) and send direct messages, completely end-to-end encrypted. To do this, it uses a system of a public key and private key that you get when you register, which also means you don’t have to provide an email or phone number. In addition, it can be used to make payments through the Bitcoin Lightning Network.
This is different to Mastodon, where users’ accounts are linked to a particular server whose administrators have a certain level of control over registered users. In short, Mastodon’s reliability depends on the server being used: if it falls its capacity to enter or use the network is affected. In Damus, the information is stored in a series of decentralized relays, which means that, instead of having a single company or entity in control of the…
