The current version of the webb has drawbacks
There are numerous problems with today’s internet, sometimes referred to as “web 2.0”. Well-known web 2.0 services are centralized platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Wikipedia, and YouTube. To mention some of the problems (click to expand):
The information you receive is often filtered by algorithms (i.e., selected by computers). This is indeed welcome in several contexts. However, it also means that the information presented to you can be chosen to make you act in a certain way. Facebook/Meta actually experimented on its users in 2014 to see if it could make them sad . They could. Manipulating users’ emotions is hardly an act of a “socially responsible company”, and should not be tolerated.
Facebook blocked its users’ ability to share a specific news article with each other before the 2020 US presidential election. (See Facebook Files and Twitter Files for more examples). And this despite the fact that the content of the newspaper article was actually true. Research has also shown that search engines “auto-complete” systems appear to be able to influence “undecided voters dramatically”. The same probably applies to most large social media platforms.
Using centralized platforms means that your account can be shut down (so-called de-platforming). This can have serious consequences for your online presence. If you are de-platformed, you usually lose access to your contact list and friend list on that platform, which can make it difficult for you to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances. But you can also lose access to important information and contacts that you have built up over a long time. De-platforming can also have significant economic consequences, such as losing your ability to earn money through ads, sponsored posts, and other forms of online activity.
Nostr is an exciting alternative to today’s web
An alternative to the big companies’ “web 2.0” is Nostr. Nostr stands for Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays and is an open protocol for censorship-resistant global networks. With Nostr, you get full control over your communication channels. Nostr can be used as an alternative to Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram, but also as an alternative to the centralized blogging platforms Substack and Medium. In fact, all internet traffic that uses the TCP protocol can travel through the Nostr network. Many Nostr apps and programs also have built-in support for payments via the Lightning Network, which is a fast payment network built on top of Bitcoin. In other words, your followers can pay you without intermediaries getting in the way or charging hefty fees.
Key instead of account. Instead of your account being a row in a big company’s database, you have control over your identity on Nostr thanks to the use of Public Key Cryptography, i.e., the use of public and private cryptographic keys. Instead of an American IT giant owning your contact list, the contact list ends up in your control.
Diversity instead of uniformity. Instead of relying on a big company’s IT infrastructure, you spread your messages across many different computers. This reduces the risk of de-platforming.
Open doors instead of high walls. Instead of being dependent on a big company’s app or website, you can choose a client according to your preferences. Since Nostr is an open standard that anyone can use, more competition and rapid development are enabled.
Getting started
Nostr is a platform that protects your freedom. There is no censorship, no manipulation, and no algorithms dictating what you see from a central authority. You have full freedom to choose what you want to see and when you want to see it. It’s easy to get started with Nostr. There are numerous apps for both iPhones and Android phones. Nostr can also be used in a web browser. A short (4-minute) video guide on how to get started in a web browser is available in Swedish . Or click on the relevant tab below and follow the instructions.
Click on the right tab to get started!
Note: below notes were created 2024-09-07.
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
- Android (Google Pixel)
- Web Browser (Brave)
iOS - Quick Guide with Primal
- Download Primal from the App Store
- Start Primal
- Choose “Create Account”
- Enter a name under “Display Name” (it can be changed later). Tap “Next”
- Choose at least one “interest”. Tap “Next”
- Tap “Create Account Now”
- When asked if you want to activate your Primal Wallet (a Lightning wallet), choose “I’ll do this later”
- Welcome to Nostr!
Android - Quick Guide with Amethyst
- Download Amethyst from Google Play
- Start Amethyst
- Tap “Sign Up”
- Choose a name (it can be changed later)
- Check “I accept the terms of use”
- Tap “Create Account”
- Welcome to Nostr!
Web Browser - Quick Guide with Primal
- Visit https://primal.net/home in your web browser (Chrome/Brave)
- Tap “Get Started” at the top
- Tap “Create Account” in the middle of the screen
- Enter a name under “Username” (it can be changed later). Tap “Next”
- Enter more details about your profile if you want. Tap “Next”
- Now you are suggested accounts to follow. If you don’t want to follow them, tap “unfollow all”. Then tap “Finish”
- Now you are suggested to lock access to the information behind a PIN code. Do it if you want (Set PIN), or choose “Continue without a PIN”
- Welcome to Nostr!
You are now ready to explore the Nostr network!
Follow us on Nostr and stay up-to-date on our latest activities. Simply add our public key below or scan the QR code to get started. We can’t wait to see you there!
Public key:
npub1gg6zywvkeej5juswvmwkh39m0mae7fwxp3ypd4aug7n9u8vqmvjq5ljzdu
QR code (scan from a Nostr app):
Do you wish to know more? Click here to dive deeper into Nostr’s innovative technology: