For some reason I've not found this stated clearly anywhere in the Steemit FAQ and stuff, but actually it is buried in there.
I know something about blockchain tech, and the idea is that it's supposed to be transparent and yet fixed. You can't alter what's happened on it. And this is true.
Well, there's a 7 DAY time-frame on Steemit before your posts become part of the Steem blockchain.
Within that time there is a way to 'delete' your post: just replace it with blank content. Same goes for your account: you can't actually delete it. All posts - and comments - will become fixed into the blockchain.
Be careful what you write!
It's not a great selling point for a social media platform, but then... maybe it is. It's certainly a really interesting difference, but it's why I'm keeping my wordpress site, for more 'evergreen' content that I can update.
You might say Steemit is supposedly better for old-school blogging - transient stuff - discussion... but then surely you'd have thought the opposite too? Useful for evergreen stuff. Surely, the power to update more information-based content is important.
What you can do with your older posts? I guess just add a comment underneath to provide an update to the content. It expands on the topic and conversation when you can see the full thread. Nice reference for journalists reporting on the history of crypto one day, eh?
I still like Steemit. I think it can become great for its community, its followings and interconnections; its incentive scheme to get involved, gain influence and boost discussion. We learn through discussion, but our mistakes will also be on display. I reckon some people may want to distance themselves from their accounts someday! But... it all makes for quite a different arena than other platforms surely, where discussions can be edited and can just disappear.
New features on Steemit should build upon categorising our content better, and our followings. Let's have more ways to organise our profile pages and posts.
But I was posting this to put out some clarification/discussion on the whole edit - delete thing. It'll be interesting to see how other blockchain-based social media platforms intend to handle this.
Note: there's a Steem logo at the top corner of some of my posts. Anyone know what this is about? Actually I'm not sure right now so if you're reading this and know the answer, please let me know!
I hope this post (and any comments) help to highlight this aspect of Steemit. New users can be so focused here on building a presence we can totally overlook the very nature of the blockchain at present.
Meanwhile, here's a piece of evolution-inspired art. After all, we have a blockchain-type DNA thing inside us, which is sortof fixed, but can also mutate in the environment...
Stay tuned!
