Universal Usernames are Coming to Web3.0
Do you have a different username for each social media platform? This problem could easily be avoided by having universal usernames, but how can that be accomplished? In order to do this, there would have to be a universal database available to all social media platforms, which would enable them to cross reference the accounts with each username. Sounds complicated right? Not if you’re using the blockchain as your universal database! The blockchain gives everyone unlimited free access to its data, enabling it to be the perfect platform for universal usernames!
What do we want from universal usernames?
Universal usernames would enable us to link all of our social media accounts together under a singular username, which would make many of our lives easier. If my name were to be “John Smith,” my Instagram username might be “@J_Smith,” while my twitter handle is “@johnsmith123,” and my tiktok account is “@jsmith456,” etc. This can become tiring to keep track of, and confusing to remember which one is which. Universal usernames would eliminate all of this trouble, and allow each of our social media accounts to exist under a single username.
How can universal usernames be accomplished?
Essentially, there would have to be a web3.0 service that allows users to make an NFT, or some other kind of token, that can store the data of a username inside of it. The storage would all be on-chain, which would allow for it to be completely decentralized.
Additionally, when someone creates a new username on the universal username platform, the platform would have to make sure the username does not exist already before allowing them to create the username. This ensures there are no duplicate usernames!
An additional upside to having the universal usernames as an NFT or other digital token, would be that they are transferrable! This could create a market for buying and selling usernames, which is good for people who value certain usernames.
Does a universal username product already exist?
Although there are many products out there, the best one I’ve found so far is In Writing. In Writing is a fully text-based NFT marketplace, which allows users to publish (mint), buy, and sell any piece of text as an NFT! Additionally, In Writing ensures that each piece of text published on their platform is unique, meaning the same text cannot be published more than once.
Although no major platforms are pushing for universal usernames or catered towards web3.0 applications, In Writing is in a prime position to become the leading platform for universal usernames as they are established, have low fees, and have low gas fees on their platform.
How close are we to universal usernames?
Web3.0 has a long way to go before it is widely adopted. Before universal usernames can be implemented into social media platforms, every internet user needs to have a cryptocurrency wallet, which is a facet of web3.0.
Once web3.0 is in full effect, and everyone has a crypto wallet, the possibility of universal usernames is high. In Writing has made sure platforms can interact with it very easily, making it a very versatile and interface-able service.
What can you do today?
If you think you would benefit from having a universal username, then you can navigate to In Writing to claim your username as an NFT! In Writing is offering free mints on their website right now, so make sure to take advantage and publish your first NFT for free!
I’ve minted my name, as well as potential usernames already to make sure they can’t be published by anyone else!
Read more about In Writing here!
