LET’S TALK ALTERNATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
If our content is too avant-garde, liberal, left-wing, off-grid, or in any way alternative, we are experiencing blocks. Gone are the days of free speech to our online audiences on social media platforms. At this point, we are simply done with being muted. Especially at a time when the world is undergoing foundational restructuring and we are being forced to save social situations to being online due to global pandemic lockdowns. Now everything we say and do can be tapped into, collected for data, and controlled.
Did you also notice that even by having conversations about certain topics we have started to receive targeted advertisements? Yes, some of these companies are using our applications as recording devices for our private conversations. Our message data is being used for commercial gain, with the potential for political intervention. I’m not sure about you, but this is starting to feel more and more like Big Brother come true.
Furthermore, have you noticed how all of our amazing content is given away to major channels for free? Besides Youtube, there aren’t a great deal of social channels financially supporting the brilliant ideas and art being produced. It is becoming increasingly geared towards only those who PAY a premium to be seen to global networks. Our lives have become data for the social media machines to profile us, target ads towards us, and profit from the free content we supply them. Yep, that’s a reality we currently subscribe to.
So, what can we do? Start to focus our attention on alternative social media channels.
In light of the current social media landscape, what alternatives do we have? I’ve been doing a little research to uncover some of the emerging trends on the field. Here are some of my favorites:
1. TELEGRAM
Just like Whatsapp, Telegram is a cell phone application that is linked to your cell phone number. It allows for private conversations to remain private. That’s right, you no longer have to observe all of your linked social media accounts targeting ads about the contents of your last conversation with your grandmother.
Telegram also allows for groups to share unconventional news that will not be censored, which is searchable by @names rather than having to be manually added by a moderator. If you have a nonmainstream opinion about Coronavirus, Trump, or GMO you now have a safe space to share articles and ideas with your network. From online videos, articles, documents, personal projects, etc Telegram will present ALL posts in chronological order with a search tool with zero algorithmic intervention or censorship.
Momentom Collective has started a group on Telegram for our community to connect and share. You can find us by downloading the app on your phone, creating a new account, and searching for our group @momentomcollective
We also recommend following @newearthproj for alternative news, and @SEEDS_Community to stay on top of the SEEDS alternative currency project.
2. UPTRENND
Started by long-standing Momentom community member, Jeff Kirdeikis, Uptrennd.com was initially as a tokenized platform for sharing information about Cryptocurrency where the community has the chance to vote and tip with cryptocurrency the content that they found useful. Not only was the content community voted, like Reddit, but it also rewards content creators giving the option for readers to tip those who provided them with useful information!
Uptrennd quickly grew in popularity and with its success, Jeff has opened to content outside of Cryptocurrency investment. Now is a great time to onboard Uptrennd and grow with a progressive company founded by someone within the Momentom community.
3. HIGH VIBE NETWORK
This is the grandmother of the platforms that we have our eye on. Still, in the Alpha phase, HVN is set to launch next year. The concept is to reward both content creators AND viewers on a tokenized platform that aims to shift the consciousness of the WORLD by rewarding individuals for spending their leisure time leveling themselves. Their key drives are:
A blockchain ecosystem designed to:
– accelerate the consciousness of humanity.
– revolutionize personal development.
– reward users for expanding their consciousness.
– create a global conscious community.
– converge technology for the greater good.
– awaken human potential.
– empower authors and creators.
HVN will be a hybrid of tokenized economy and fiat. It will contain both free content, as well as subscription-based content. Momentom Collective has partnered with HVN and will be offering Podcasts & video content for free, as well as offering full digital course content series by Momentom members by subscription. This platform is just launching and will become the home-based for Momentom Digital content.
4. GFAM
A new kid on the block, GFam is still in the development and testing phase but is fully functional for taking on new members right now. I have been posting content for GFam for the past two months and have found it to be a very promising tokenized option for individuals, with the closest “alike” mainstream app being Instagram. Built on a platform that supports XRP Cryptocurrency, GFam allows “tipping” and encourages selfies. Yes, that’s right – be paid for posting selfies!
The concept was born from two truths found in other image-based content platforms:
1. Images are typically staged & rewards are given through computerized algorithms that prioritize professional photography. Selfies are mostly taken at the moment and are much more personal and real.
2. Content is given away for free and completely geared towards highlighting those with influence. It doesn’t give much of a chance for those without following to have a voice even if they have a very important message!
So how it works is, you upload a fresh selfie along with a title and a story. This gives you a chance to give meaningful insights outside of mainstream views or generic quotes. It encourages you to think about what you are posting about and why exactly you are sending off that personal content to the world.
The best part is, when your online GFam community see & read your post and they love the content, they have the chance to tip you! For example, when I uploaded a selfie of me planting trees in a permaculture farm and explained my story of how I ended up there and why, the community LOVED it and showed their support with tips.
GFAM is not yet an app, but you can use the web browser version both on your computer or mobile: https://gfam.live/
5. NECTAR
Nectar most recently hit our radar. This is a platform built by a community in Boulder, Colorado-based on conscious content. This from my list would be the closest contender to replace the social interaction and function of mainstream app Facebook. The upgrade is that it is designed specifically for the conscious community. When signing up for Nectar, you are asked to sign a pledge:
“We invite you to take your place in a new social ecosystem with purpose. We are here to create a peaceful, thriving world we all know is possible!
Let’s start by agreeing to do our best to:
Act with kindness, respect, and integrity.
Witness and support each other.
Create a community where all people feel welcome, safe, and appreciated.
Be proactive in taking steps and making good decisions to take care of our fellow humans and mother earth.”
Nectar guiding principles are probably the closest aligned to Momentom core values in totality than any other network that we have come across. Community agreements include:
- Showing up in our highest integrity.
- This is an experiment.
- Everyone has a beautiful unique Nectar.
- Being open to new connections.
- Learning together.
- Evolving together.
- Authentic communication.
- Taking individual responsibility for our experience.
- Maintaining Nectar as a safe, trusted space for authentic expression.
- Community responsibility.
- Creating a positive impact.
- Be open and show up for conflict resolution.
- Practicing consent.
- Maintaining freedom of sexual expression.
- Connecting safely.
The app is downloadable and is full of amazing features like meditation trackers and directories for personal growth, however, there are still many bugs to iron out in the app and adoption is still very low.
SUMMARY
It will take mass adoption for any application to take over the usership of the two major social media players Facebook and Instagram. There are many exciting options emerging and many that align with New Earth principles. The ones here are just recommendations from my own research and we will likely experience big changes in this domain as the world goes through its major structural shift. I believe that the best thing we can do is start to look at alternative platforms where we have freedom of speech, our data isn’t collected and sold, and where visibility is controlled by users rather than algorithms.
We are experiencing many of the more progressive groups we are partnering with switching communication to Telegram, so we are starting to pick up on this network for community sharing. We are fully backing the High Vibe Network by preparing to launch our entire digital content on their platform.
On top of a Momentom community thread on Telegram, digital content on High Vibe Network, Momentom is fully backing the Seeds movement on Hypha.
If you want further information on any of these platforms, or how to get involved with Seeds, you can let us know in the survey below.
What about a platform for MOMENTOM SOCIAL?
This is something we have entertained the idea of but have yet to put wheels in action to make a Momentom community application specifically for the Momentom community. I’m curious to hear first hand if this is something you would be interested using?
Please let us know your thoughts on this survey.
Read another article about cryptocurrency and supporting artists here.
