Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Drives Effort to Decentralize TikTok

Story Highlights

• Alexis Ohanian joined Project Liberty to decentralize TikTok.
• Polkadot’s Frequency provides users with control over data and content.
• The idea intends to develop a transparent, user-owned social platform.

Reddit’s co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, has collaborated with Project Liberty’s bid for the acquisition of TikTok’s US operations on a quest to decentralize the platform using blockchain technology. His involvement, originally reported by Reuters on March 3, represents an attempt at revolutionizing social media by ensuring users and data take priority over ownership.

Project Liberty, which was started by billionaire Frank McCourt, is at the forefront of buying TikTok’s U.S. operation and re-architecting it on a decentralized model. Ohanian, who has made early bets on crypto and Web3, has joined as a strategic adviser. He brings his vision for a more equitable and transparent social media landscape.

Alexis Ohanian Joins Bid to Decentralize TikTok With Blockchain

Ohanian corroborated his involvement in an X post, mentioning his conviction that users own their data and creators own their audience. He made it clear that Frequency, an open social networking protocol on Polkadot, would be the foundation of this shift. By using blockchain, Frequency believes it can reclaim power from the central platforms and give individuals absolute control over their own content and information.

McCourt’s crew sees this takeover as an opportunity to reshape the online universe. They aim to eliminate the need for mysterious algorithms and insidious data behavior. He believes it will bring higher accountability and openness. According to him, this move will raise the bar on social media governance.

Ohanian is a firm believer in blockchain and Web3 technology. Reddit bought significant cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Polygon in 2022, although the website later sold most of them. His experience in the crypto world and the tech universe positions him at the helm of this ambitious endeavor. He brings valuable expertise to drive the project’s success. He is well-equipped to lead this initiative.

The offer to buy TikTok’s American operation comes as regulators and lawmakers scrutinize data harvesting practices on the platform and its ownership. If approved, its use of blockchain technology would set an example for the future of social media. This shift would reclaim control from companies and place it into the hands of people.

Led by Project Liberty and Ohanian, the decentralization of TikTok campaign is a step toward reshaping how online platforms operate. This initiative promises an era where individuals will gain control over their online lives.