Things are changing at a rapid pace. The advancement of technology, especially as it pertains to IT, is amazing. Within 10 years, we are going to see progress that completely alters society.
Whether this is a good thing or not is up to debate. Nevertheless, we cannot dispute the power of some aspects to artificial intelligence. Machine learning is moving ahead in an unprecedented manner. The recent release of ChatGPT reveals how natural language tools are changing the way we engage.
In other words, the digital world is expanding. There appears to be little evidence that shows this realm will not be a larger part of our overall lives in the future.
For many of us, Hive is already a home. There are a lot of analogies that we toss out regarding this ecosystem. However, in this article, we will explore an idea that I think captures the essence of what we are dealing with and how things could unfold going forward.
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The Network-State
The concept of the decentralized network-state was something we discussed over a year ago. It followed up on the idea of the transition away from the nation-state. Obviously, these are long-term views that will take more than a half century to materialize.
However, that does not preclude is from thinking about and, to some degree, implementing the foundation that these will be built on. In fact, a case could be made that Hive is already doing this.
If we look at this ecosystem through the lens of present day nation, we can see how much of what that entity provides can be replaced. Basically, we are embracing the idea the digital world is going to become a bigger part of our daily lives.
In these articles, the topic of the Hive economy comes up. This is important. Once a community (ecosystem, project) is monetized, it can form an economy. Businesses are built that generate revenues. This is similar to what takes place in the physical world. The only difference is geography plays no part in this.
Another breakthrough is that the network-state is completely voluntary. Nobody is forced to be a part of Hive unlike the nation-state. Under that scenario, where one was physically born has great bearing on what kind of life he or she can lead. Talk about the Lucky Sperm Club lottery.
Since there is no volunteerism under this system, it is ripe for corruption. Leaving is difficult due to the fact that one has to physically relocate. Then, to compound matters, both countries, the exit and entry, make it even more difficult with regulations. It is easy to see how people conclude this is a form of slavery.
With the network-state, relocation is simple. It is only the matter of a few clicks of a mouse and one is "residing" elsewhere. Therefore, the network-state has great fluidity as compare to the nation-state. For this reason, it has to better serve the needs of the members.
A lot of this has been written about before. Social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can be considered loose forms of this idea although they are centralized network-states. It is debatable how much of a step forward they really hare.
That said, the decentralized network-state is a radical transformation.
The Hive Citizen
Many ask what it will take for Hive to attract more users. As we progress down the concept being put forth here, it is easy to see how this is the wrong mindset.
Users are akin to like being part of a population. Many countries are seeing the start of the downfall because of this important idea.
Being part of a population means you are physically among a group. However, identification can be completely different. We also have the fact to be part of that group carries no responsibility. One is simply there trying to extract the benefits the nation provides.
This is a marked difference from being a citizen. When one operates under this framework, the benefits of the system are available. However, in addition to this, there is great responsibility upon each person. Here is where ideas such as dedication and commitment enter.
Therefore, Hive actually does not require more users. We have seen what happens when this occurs. There was a time where the number of active accounts was much higher. What did the ecosystem look like? It was actually filled with more who were simply extracting from the system.
Contrast that with some of the most dedicated people involved with Hive. Picture in your mind how they operate compared to the ones just described. Here is where the idea of citizen enters.
Hive simply needs to bring in more citizens. When people understand we are seeing the formation of a decentralized network-state, then they can be attracted to totality of what is built developed. This is not just some social media or blogging platform. It is much bigger than that.
What Does It Mean To Be A Citizen?
Here is where the proverbial rubber meets the road.
A great deal of this starts with the ownership mindset. There is a great deal of difference between how a business owner looks at something compared to an investor. With Hive, it is imperative to have the mindset of ownership.
We also have to take responsibility for the path forward. There are many areas where one can impact this, all of it stemming from action. One variable in any type of "state" is the idea of governance.
Decentralized network-states are a possibility because of the governance models we started to create. As people work to garner influence, they become a larger part of the governance system. This is a major difference between a citizen and a user. The latter simply shows up, not really caring too much about what makes the ecosystem successful.
Again, we have to lose the extractor mindset.
The desire for improvement is also vital. Users are there for the moment, taking whatever they can get out of it. A citizen understands the long term nature of things. Sure, it is possible to exit a digital platform in an instant. However, if the citizenship mentality is there, we will see the desire to improve the system. Certainly not all will agree with new ideas but the overall attitude of each participant wanting things to get better should not be questioned.
Finally, in spite of our differences, there is a common bond that unifies all who are part of this network-state. Being a part of the Hive nation is important to people. We see this in Ghana, Venezuela, and Nigeria. To them, this is an opportunity not presented in their present nation-state.
This is something to be celebrated and built upon. Being a citizen of Hive comes with enormous opportunity and benefits. It also carries with it a great responsibility. While we want large numbers, it is far more important to find people with the proper mindset.
As one member of our community says, the ride or die attitude.
This is a lot bigger than a new social media application.
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