MeWe’s chairman and CEO, Jeffrey Edell, recently expressed his views on the escalating situation between the United States government and China’s TikTok, proposing that the use of blockchain technologies could have prevented this conflict. Edell’s unique position as the head of a social media company that has successfully transitioned from traditional Web2 to blockchain adds weight to his argument.
Recent reports suggest that the U.S. is contemplating a complete ban on TikTok due to concerns that ByteDance, the platform’s owner, has shared sensitive user data with the Chinese government, potentially compromising U.S. security. In an op-ed for Rolling Stone, Edell emphasized that the core issue with TikTok revolves around user privacy, which could have been safeguarded through decentralization. He stated that adopting Web 3-based blockchain technology is one way to ensure the security and protection of personal data.
As previously reported by Cointelegraph, MeWe made the transition to the Frequency blockchain network, a Polkadot parachain, in April 2023. The argument for blockchain-based user privacy primarily rests on determining who has access to user data. Traditional social media platforms, like X, employ a centralized control method where the company retains ownership of all data. In the case of TikTok, this means that ByteDance and, by extension, the Chinese government own the data of over 150 million U.S.-based users.
By storing data on the blockchain and implementing specific privacy controls, a social media network can grant users control over their own data without compromising platform functionality. While MeWe’s user base may not rival that of TikTok, their successful transition to blockchain demonstrates the feasibility of such a move.
In his Rolling Stone article, Edell also shared six best practices for companies considering a similar change: gaining a thorough understanding of the technology, starting with small-scale implementations, selecting the appropriate platform for their organization, staying informed about regulatory compliance changes, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring that employees are educated and trained in blockchain technology.