This is something that took place over the last few years. A number of prominent crypto "influencers" had their accounts banned by YouTube and other social media sites. There is no doubt these platforms see the threat crypto is to their business model and are doing all they can to stop word from spreading.
The latest to find himself in this situation is Davinci Jeremie, who had 82,000 followers on YouTube. The key word is "had" since the account was wiped out and everything associated with it is gone.
What was the reason for this eradication: the proverbial violation of terms of service.
When will people learn?
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The reason I use the term "influencer" is because there are a lot of people out there who make videos talking about cryptocurrency. They discuss how it will change the world while providing freedom from centralized entities. This is, naturally, a good thing and a step in the right direction for people. Some even broach the subject of Web 3.0 and the continued evolution of the Internet.
There is a challenge with what these people are doing. While they are talking about cryptocurrency, they are not involved with the platforms. Certainly, many are likely Bitcoin hodlers as well as some other cryptocurrencies. They might be investing to increase their bags like a lot of other people.
It is a good move since the likelihood of another bull run increases with each day. Ensuring one's personal finances is always the first step. We all have obligations that require meeting.
However, there is a deeper move taking place, one which these individuals miss. While they are posting all their content on the likes of YouTube and Twitter, they are omitting the actually applications that are catering to cryptocurrency. Instead of talking about what is happening, they can actually be a part of it.
Take the situation with data and how these centralized entities are using it for their own benefit. This is something that comes up in these crypto videos quite frequently. What is interesting is that as people are watching crypto videos, they are providing more support to the centralized establishment. Each time another video is uploaded to YouTube, that organization only grows in size.
Certainly, it is sensible to go where the audience is. There is no doubt that these centralized platforms still control the masses. At the same time, the content creators are earning an income from being associated with the likes of YouTube. That is, of course, until the account is wiped out. Then the owner of the account is forced to beg to try to get it back.
Ultimately, while all this is happening, these individuals, for the most part, are not supporting the crypto based projects. Even if one still uses the traditional social media, backing up one's work on a decentralized blockchain is not a bad idea. At the same time, videos are now able to receive the same treatment with IPFS.
Does this mean one is going to opt to go exclusively crypto? It is not likely although it is an option. Wayne Gretzky is credited with being the greatest hockey player who ever lived. When asked what made him so great he simple related how he always went to where the puck was going, not where it was.
Imagine where the industry would be if the crypto "influencers" actually supported cryptocurrency platforms instead of just talking about them. Considering the trend we are seeing, it is easy to guess that the puck is going towards DApps in the future, not the centralized realm. Even Jack Dorsey is talking about that for Twitter.
The Jeremie situation is a prime example of what takes place.
The decision has already gained attention by the wider crypto YouTube community. Earlier today, crypto YouTuber Sunny Decree posted a video discussing Jeremie’s permanent ban. “With this episode, I’m trying to support him,” Decree said.
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Notice how they support each other but not crypto projects. When will they learn?
This is not the first time YouTube (or the other sites) went down this path. Periodically, over the past year, YouTube has gone on a crypto culling, waning out a number of accounts. At times they reestablished them, but damage was done.
Simply looking at this from a business perspective, if one's business is a threat of eradication with the click of a button, it would only make sense to diversify to protect against the downside. Yet, these individuals appear to be keeping all their eggs in the centralized social media basket.
A case could be made that the decentralized applications are not up to par with the likes of YouTube. That certainly is a valid point that cannot be disputed. That is common in the early days of development. Look at YouTube a year or two after it was released and it is easy to see that it was not akin to the platform today.
However, together, we can bring more attention to these DApps while expanding the number of users across the crypto-sphere. At the same time, those who are in early are able to stake a position when the communities are small. This will set one apart as things grow in size and scope.
Plus there is the added bonus that each time a video or article appears, the activity pertaining to that is not being traced by YouTube or Facebook. Instead, it is being accessed by a variety of user interfaces, none relating directly to each other.
In the end, the trend that is being established will likely continue. YouTube and others will continue their assault on crypto while the other platforms keep developing. Over time, we will see the gap start to close in terms of the features offered, providing alternatives to people.
Those who are early to make the switch will likely benefit the most. This is how it usually works.
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