Decentralizing The Internet: The Hitchhiker's Guide [by Nicholas Resendez]

Developers need to band together in hopes of taking back the internet to its original use of free and fair communication that is free for all without reliance of the centralized middlemen

The consistent growth of internet connected devices are the primary values driving a majority of innovations in the technology industries. There is growth in relation to internet usage, as Pew Research Center describes that nearly 93% of American adults use the internet, up from about half of all adults using internet in 2000. The driving forces of growing computation power and human internet interactions can be paired with the growing use of decentralized networks. These decentralized networks aim to disrupt our current centralized networks, where users are no longer in control of their data and security information. Thanks to the progression of Blockchain technology, an increasing number of startups and organizations are popping up with solutions in hopes to give the power back to the people, and so everyone has access to their own keys of their digital footprint. [Read full article]

The network internet effect has provided a gateway for social media influencers, artists, and gamers to expand their reach. Now more than ever are people expecting the internet to provide paychecks, social activities, and basic interactions, which is changing the way society operates through daily life. Because of this shift in internet connected apps, big tech giants have broadened their reach from kids all the way to the elderly. These giant tech companies are harvesting enormous amounts of personal data which is then used to predict future behaviors and ultimately provide value for their own cause. However, with more data breaches happening every year, the centralization of the internet shows clear signs of diminishing returns.

How is the Internet Centralized?

The world wide web, aka the internet used by the majority of users is heavily centralized. The main reason being the way which users can easily communicate and operate their daily needs and wants which ultimately enables big tech companies operations. Since internet users typically express their opinions, needs, and wants online, a tech company will attempt to identify these mutual interests, creating a bridge or in other words, a digital footprint. This bridge can then be connected to another big tech company, ultimately transferring the interests, desires, and behaviors of a user to find mutual interests on other sites. This helps keep users enticed on web pages, showing them relevant content. This can then be used by monopolistic tech companies in hopes of reaping direct traffic from one network to another.

The users are catching onto these internet monopolies. It is quite clear that many internet users believe big tech companies such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon are beginning, if not have already have attempted to take over the internet. Users have become dependent on eCommerce for their home goods, groceries, and nearly any physical goods on Amazon. The answers of the unknown can be uncovered by a quick Google search, but while you're at it might as well check your email, then pull up the Google Maps app to head home. The main problem behind these issues is the centralization of goods and services in which we have become dependent in order to operate daily routines. The questions begs, "why can we just ditch these monopolistic companies and create better concepts?" We can; however, it seems that users tend to utilize these technology giant sites since they offer better interfaces, and quicker services. [Continue To Read Full Article]