In the social media sector of cryptocurrency, there are several dapps and associated cryptos built for messaging systems and social media. The juxtaposition of DESO/MASK, two of the top ten social media cryptocurrencies by market cap, draws a comparison showing how web3 social media can be improved on from its current structure, as well as showing the variety of potential that social dapps have.

What is Decentralized Social?

Decentralized Social (DESO) was launched in 2019 to fragment the centralized nature of web2 social media. Decentralized Social (DeSo) is not a social media platform as such; rather it is a permissionless, scalable blockchain that supports web3 social networks.

DeSo currently supports a variety of apps in different market sectors, such as: 

1. ChimeIn – a web3 voice-chat room provider

2. SuperNovas – a decentralized social NFT marketplace

3. Wun – an ID card that can be used in the metaverse

4. CloutMegazord – a seed phrase splitter for multiple wallet owners

5. NameTrade – an exchange where users can buy and sell DeSo usernames

DeSo operates under the philosophy shared by many content-creating dApps, those content creators should be compensated for their work, in part by consumers, and share in the profits made by the platform that hosts their platform. This business model is one of the main advantages of web3 social media platforms; it ensures privacy and data ownership, something web2 tech monopolies do not truly provide. 

Unlike web2 social media platforms, Decentralized Social is able to integrate cryptocurrency into its platform using its own native token, DESO. In doing so, it facilitates a peer-to-peer network allowing content creators to be paid by consumers, incentivizing creators to produce more content.

What is Mask Network?

Mask Network (MASK) is a dApp ecosystem with several wide-ranging features such as decentralized messaging, payment systems, and file storage & sharing. Mask’s aim is to bridge the gap between web2 and web3 by leveraging the familiarity of traditional social networks with web3 enhancements. 

Adhering to the web3 philosophy of creator-owned data, Mask has made it its mission to build a secure platform that puts content data back into creators’ hands. Mask is accessible through its open-sourced browser extension and provides a Twitter-like user experience. The extension allows creators to screen out hackers and only share their content with their audience.

Perhaps the best example of Mask’s service is its Initial Twitter Offering (ITO), a widget integrated into Twitter integration that allows users to trade NFTs as well as display their collections. 

Mask’s overall goal is to build out an infrastructure for the metaverse using web2-style tools to support NFTs as a fundamental element of the metaverse. Features include using NFT avatars as profile pictures, shopping at multiple NFT marketplaces, and using credit cards to directly purchase NFTs. 

Similarities

1. Serving users with the philosophy that social media should be centered around content creators, not platform builders; and that the content should be owned by the creator.

2. Building out social media platforms and related infrastructure to expand and improve web3, with Mask focusing a little more on the metaverse.

3. Laying the groundwork for needed improvements to social media which can only be provided by blockchain technology; decentralization marks the dividing line between web2 and web3.

Differences

1. Mask is focused on the digital economy of the metaverse and NFT integrations. DeSo is more focused on securing privacy and ownership of creators’ data.

2. DeSo is building an entire infrastructure on which web3 social media platforms and social dApps are built. Mask is a web2-style social network platform that integrates with Twitter and ties in Rarible and OpenSea to Twitter’s app for NFT trading and collecting.

3. DeSo has a collection of native and third-party dApps that showcase DeSo’s scalability, speed and range of services. Mask enhances prebuilt web2 tools widely used in the marketplace with web3 widgets that integrate into traditional apps.

DESO/MASK in context

Blockchain is changing social media for the better, not least because of its ability to allow for true security, true ownership of data, and optional anonymity. For years the public has clamored for better privacy online, and while major social media companies have promised better privacy and security, it cannot fundamentally be served to users given the current siloed data structures. 

Blockchain provides secure data that is immutable, transparent and truly owned by the creator.