Not directly related to #foss #floss and Open Source, but surely related to the open source philosophy, is the discussion about Open News. In the past, present and future, for sure in combination with Social Media there has, Is and Will Be a lot of Fake and Funnel news. First lets discuss what fake news is and what is funnel news.
Fake News
The term "fake news" has been widely used and debated in recent years, particularly during the 2016 US presidential election. While it's difficult to pinpoint a single definitive definition, here are some common connotations associated with "fake news":
- Intentionally false or misleading information: Fake news refers to fabricated stories, hoaxes, or misinformation intentionally spread by individuals, organizations, or media outlets to deceive the public.
- Misleading headlines and summaries: Fake news can also involve sensationalized or manipulated headlines, summaries, or excerpts that distort the actual content of a story, often for clickbait purposes.
- Unverifiable sources: Fake news stories may rely on untrustworthy or anonymous sources, making it difficult to verify their accuracy.
- Biased reporting: Some critics argue that fake news can also refer to biased or one-sided reporting by traditional media outlets, which presents a particular perspective as factual without providing balanced coverage.
Funnel news
Funnel News refers to a phenomenon where information, often biased or misleading, is intentionally channeled through specific channels or platforms to influence public opinion. This can involve manipulating the flow of information to create a particular narrative or outcome. Funnel news thrives, because of the social media algorithms that ensure that people see what is deemed 'relevant' to them by the biased Algorithm, this way they see the news through a tunnel, which obscures lots of interesting other messages.
The term "funnel" suggests that information is being directed or concentrated into a narrow channel, much like water flowing through a funnel. In this context:
- Biased sources: Funnel News often involves using biased or untrustworthy sources as primary channels for disseminating information.
- Manipulated narratives: The goal of Funnel News is to create and reinforce specific narratives that support the desired outcome, rather than presenting balanced or accurate information.
- Influencing public opinion: By controlling the flow of information through these funneled channels, individuals or organizations can shape public perception and influence opinions.
So somehow the world needs methods, frameworks, media to battle the problems of fake and funnel news. A possible solution could be Serey.IO or any uncontrolled media which is part of the fediverse.
For sure platforms like Matrix, Bluesky and Mastodon can play a role in free and independent news, but we believe a platform like Serey is more suited for news. So lets discuss what Serey is, and why Serey is a good solution for independent news.
From the evolution of Internet to Blockchain
The evolution of the internet has been marked by significant shifts in how people interact online, starting with the very first generation of the Web in the 1990s. At that time, it allowed individuals to share information through simple, static websites that visitors could browse. This changed with the following generation of the web, Web 2.0, which was more user-friendly, more interactive with fast loading asynchronic web elements, and real-time updates, enabling people to interact and create content. Tech giants like Google, Facebook and WeChat emerged and thrived in this environment.
However, the rapid growth of Web 2.0 has also come with drawbacks. Companies began collecting and selling personal data en masse, turning it into a highly profitable business. Such tech giants eventually became so predominant that internet users became increasingly dependent on them for information, which led to concerns over privacy and manipulation of information since these companies control what users see.
In 2008, Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin white paper introduced an alternative peer-to-peer electronic cash system utilizing blockchain technology. The technology provides secure, transparent ways to store data without intermediaries. Since then, people learned about blockchain’s tremendous capability to change the Web and sought to use it for applications outside of electronic cash. The technology is one of the cornerstones of Web 3.0, enabling a decentralized internet where users control their own data, identities, and digital assets without relying on centralized platforms. Web 3.0 aims to create a more open, secure, and user-driven online environment, using smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps) to shift power away from tech giants and give control to individuals.
One such application is Serey. Serey is a blockchain-powered social publishing platform that leverages Web 3.0 dApps to decentralize online content, encourages uncensorable speech, and foster social engagement.
The world urgently needs a competitive platform that is unbiased, and one that can realistically resonate the voice of the people without manipulation or censorship. Serey was created to meet this need, aiming to become a frontrunner in providing a transparent and better alternative to today’s dominant social platforms.
Serey
Serey is on a mission to decentralize online content by fostering a community-driven platform that encourages users to actively engage in social interactions. The core idea is simple: by empowering users to freely post, curate, and share content, while providing both social and economic incentives, the platform can cultivate a diverse and higher-quality flow of information. Unlike traditional social media, where content is controlled by centralized entities, Serey leverages blockchain technology to store all user-generated content securely and transparently, distributing it globally to ensure it remains immutable and censorship-resistant.
At the heart of Serey’s ecosystem is the Serey (SRY) token. Every user account on Serey is equipped with an integrated wallet, allowing each member to earn, hold, and transfer SRY tokens. These tokens are automatically distributed by the Serey blockchain to anyone who has contributed to the platform by either writing, commenting, or curating online content on Serey. Whereas Bitcoin miners earn rewards through a Proof-of-Work system, we could say that Serey utilizes a Proof-of-Creativity for rewards. In addition to that, validators (witnesses) are incentivized to maintain and secure the network. They are also rewarded with SRY tokens for their work. Lastly, SRY also acts like a stake in the whole Serey ecosystem. Holding SRY, you are effectively a user as well as an owner of Serey.
By rewarding meaningful contributions, Serey aligns the interests of its users with the growth and integrity of the platform, ultimately creating a more decentralized, transparent, and community-driven online space.
Values
Serey is committed to being an agnostic, neutral, and inclusive platform, providing equal access to everyone, no matter what their station of birth, race, or economic power is. By fostering an open environment where all voices can be heard, Serey empowers individuals from all walks of life to share their ideas and creativity freely. It is a place where anyone, anywhere may exercise their creativity, no matter how singular, without fear of being coerced into silence or conformity.
By prioritizing free expression and diversity of thought, Serey aims to build vibrant, decentralized communities where people can connect, share, and learn from each other in an environment that respects their freedom to think independently
Why is Serey the best solution
What the world needs is a platform that is decentralized and where readers and users can see what the history of a document is. A blockchain solution like Serey has both features. With thousands of nodes it's nearly impossible to alter posts or enforce censorship.
Although Fediverse solutions like Bluesky, Mastodon and Matrix are somehow decentralized, as you can start your own instance, it's not the same as a total decentralized network. Next, the Fediverse doesn't store the history and changes of a post, what a blockchain solution like Serey does.
The main problem, of course is, how do we generate the necessary flow to make a platform like Serey grow. Make sure that if you are interested in Free news to check out Serey.