DECENTRALIZATION: Describe what decentralized means, platform and social aspects.

1. What is decentralization?

I will look to merriam-webster.com to find out.

The first definition best applies to what I want to describe here pertaining to Steemit:

the dispersion or distribution of functions and powers a decentralization of powers; specifically, government : the delegation of power from a central authority to regional and local authorities.

Blockchain technology is widely considered a decentralized network. Meaning there is no central authority dictating, overseeing or managing the transactions on the network.

2. Steemit Platform decentralization.

Steem coin and Steem Backed Dollar is a liquidable cryptocurrency ran on a blockchain network called Steem. If you look through Steemit's faq section you will find decentralized is only mentioned twice in the same paragraph.

What this tells me is the content created on Steemit is decentralized not necessarily Steemit.com. This is slightly confusing so I will travel to the Steemit Whitepaper

This is what I found:

Steem is a decentralized network that is operated by witnesses in jurisdictions around the world. All user actions are publicly recorded on the blockchain, and can be publicly verified. This means that there is no single entity that can censor content that is valued by STEEM holders. Individual websites such as steemit.com may censor content on their particular site, but content published on the blockchain is inherently broadcast traffic and mirrors all around the world may continue to make it available. Freedom of speech is the foundation of all other liberties and any infringement upon freedom of speech undermines the only peaceful means of reaching consensus: discussion. Without free discussion voters cannot be fully informed, and uninformed voters are a greater threat to society than losing the right to vote. Censorship is a means of stealing votes through limiting public discourse. Steem is committed to enabling free speech and building a free society. -Steemit Whitepaper

After reading this, I understand better that the content we create on Steemit.com is decentralized on the Steem blockchain. Steemit.com can censor content directly on their site but not on the blockchain, thus leaving it transparent for others to publicly broadcast.

3. Social media Implications of decentralization.

In a decentralized social media atmosphere, you will find decentralization can either be isolating or freeing. In a decentralized social media atmosphere there are no algorithms, at least yet, forcing content into your feed or your content into other's feeds. There is no central authority, at least on the Steem blockchain, to enforce 'rules' except for on the actual Steemit.com website. Currently on Steemit, you find groups of users form unions to combat various unregulated Steemit infractions like fighting plagiarism, bid bot abuse and even opposing groups to counter other groups. Since there is no enforceable rules, retaliation with flags is the only current solution on Steemit.

With Steemit being a blockchain technology there are crypto-currencies involved, thus making your content a commercial property that you own. This opens up your content, that you produce to international copywrite laws, meaning that you can be sued for not using original photos, original videos and or materials not having appropriate creative common and
re-use licenses. However, there are groups that will flag you for plagiarism and/or 'copy and paste' content creation leaving your posts or comments 'greyed out' unable to veiw unless to choose to.

Steemit truly is the social experiment that it was intended to be. Steemit is not decentralized, the Steem blockchain is. While Minnow Boot Camp is centralized, it seems to not matter as I'm learning a lot and this has been a great experience participating in their program.