Sez Us: A New Social Platform for Civil Online Discourse
In a digital landscape often dominated by outrage and negativity, a new social media platform called Sez Us is emerging with a different vision. Founded by veteran Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, Sez Us aims to foster more civil and constructive online conversations by rewarding positive contributions and discouraging disruptive behavior.
Rewarding Positive Interactions
Sez Us introduces a "reputation engine" that allows users to rate each other's posts based on factors like approval, influence, insightfulness, relevance, and politeness. These ratings contribute to a user's overall reputation score, which determines their visibility and influence on the platform. Users with higher scores gain more reach, while those with lower scores may face limitations on their ability to engage with others.
Combating Negativity and Misinformation
By prioritizing positive interactions and penalizing negative behavior, Sez Us seeks to create a more welcoming and productive online environment. The platform's creators believe that this approach can help to reduce the spread of misinformation and promote more thoughtful discussions on important issues.
Sez Us also aims to address the problem of bots and fake accounts by requiring mobile verification. This measure helps to ensure that users are who they say they are, and it makes it more difficult for malicious actors to spread spam and disinformation.
A Decentralized Approach
Unlike many other social media platforms, Sez Us does not own user data. The platform is built on a decentralized social networking protocol, which allows users to move their content and assets across different platforms. This gives users more control over their data and makes it more difficult for platforms to lock them in.
A Focus on Community
Sez Us recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to social media moderation. Instead, the platform aims to empower communities to define their own standards of civility and to hold each other accountable. By creating a space where users feel safe and respected, Sez Us hopes to foster more meaningful connections and collaborations.
While it remains to be seen whether Sez Us will be successful in its mission, the platform's focus on civil discourse and community-driven moderation is a welcome departure from the toxic environment that has become all too common on social media.
Source: Wired