TL;DR:Chris Dixon 《read write own》

TL;DR:Chris Dixon “read write own”

The title of this book “read write own” directly corresponds to the three core characteristics of Web3 - users can read content, create content, and truly own their data and assets. This also reflects the fundamental transformation of Web3 compared to the Web2 era.

Core Arguments

• The internet is transitioning from centralization to decentralization, with blockchain technology being the key enabler.
• The internet has evolved through three eras: the “read era”, the “read-write era”, and the emerging “read-write-own era” (also known as Web3).
• Currently, the internet is monopolized by a few large tech companies, leading to stifled innovation, compromised user rights, and concentrated power.
• Blockchain technology promises to rebuild a fairer and more dynamic internet by giving users ownership and control.

Key Points and Facts

1. The Three Eras of the Internet

• Read Era (1990-2005):

  • The early internet was dominated by protocol networks like email and the World Wide Web, which were open and decentralized, allowing anyone to access and read information.
  • Original quote:

    “In the first act, called the “read era,” circa 1990 to 2005, early internet protocol networks democratized information. Anyone could type a few words into a web browser and read about almost any topic through websites.”

• Read-Write Era (2006-2020):

  • Dominated by corporate networks like Facebook and Twitter, these platforms allowed users to publish content but remained under company control.
  • Original quote:

    “In the second act, the “read-write era,” roughly 2006 to 2020, corporate networks democratized publishing. Anyone could write and publish to mass audiences through posts on social networks and other services.“

• Read-Write-Own Era (Web3):

  • Based on blockchain networks, aimed at giving users ownership and control while breaking up Big Tech monopolies.
  • Original quote:

    “This architecture represents a natural synthesis of the two prior types, and it is democratizing ownership. In the dawning “read-write-own era,” anyone can become a network stakeholder, gaining power and economic upside previously enjoyed by only a small number of corporate affiliates, like stockholders and employees. This new era promises to counteract Big Tech consolidation and return the internet to its dynamic roots.”

• 2. Big Tech Monopolies and Their Negative Impact

• A Small Number of Big Tech Companies Control Most Internet Traffic and Power:

  • Original quote:

    “Today the top 1 percent of social networks account for 95 percent of social web traffic and 86 percent of social mobile app use. The top 1 percent of search engines account for 97 percent of search traffic, and the top 1 percent of e-commerce sites account for 57 percent of e-commerce traffic. Outside of China, Apple and Google account for more than 95 percent of the mobile app store market.”

• Exploiting Users and Stifling Innovation:

  • Original quote:

    “Nearly all major social networks have “take rates”—the percentage of revenue network owners take from network users—of 100 percent, or near to it. (YouTube is the one outlier with a take rate of 45 percent, for reasons we’ll get into later.) This means the vast majority of that $150 billion goes to those companies instead of the users, creators, and entrepreneurs who contribute, build on top, and create value for all.“

• User Privacy Violations and Arbitrary Content Removal:

  • Original quote:

    “Meta, Google, and other ad-based companies run elaborate tracking systems that monitor every click, search, and social interaction. This has made the internet adversarial: an estimated 40 percent of internet users use ad blockers that protect against tracking.”

• Suppressing Competition and Reducing Consumer Choice:

  • Original quote:

    “The biggest platforms are anticompetitive. Amazon learns which products in its marketplaces are top sellers and then undercuts their makers with its own cheap basic versions. While physical retailers like Target and Walmart do this all the time with their own version of generic brands alongside name brands, the difference here is that Amazon is not just the store but the infrastructure.”

3. The Role of Blockchain Technology

• Establishing Immutable Software Rules, Giving Users Ownership and Control:

  • Original quote:

    “Blockchains are a new kind of computer, one you can’t put in your pocket or on your desk, as you might with a smartphone or laptop. Nevertheless, blockchains fit the classic definition of computers. They store information and run rules encoded in software that can manipulate that information.”

• Enabling Decentralized Social Networks, Markets and Payment Systems:

  • Original quote:

    “The ability for blockchains to make strong commitments about how they will behave in the future allows new networks to be created. Blockchain networks solve problems that plague earlier network architectures. They can connect people in social networks while empowering users over corporate interests. They can underpin marketplaces and payment networks that facilitate commerce”

• Combining Social Benefits of Protocol Networks with Competitive Advantages of Corporate Networks:

  • Original quote:

    “Blockchain networks combine the societal benefits of protocol networks with the competitive advantages of corporate networks. Software developers get open access, creators get direct relationships with their audiences, fees are guaranteed to stay low, and users get valuable economic and governance rights. At the same time, blockchain networks have the technical and financial capabilities to compete with corporate networks.”

4. “Computer” and “Casino” Cultures

• “Computer Culture”:

  • Focuses on long-term vision and innovation, viewing blockchain’s financial aspects as means to achieve larger goals.
  • Original quote:

    “The other group, which I call the computer, is the far more serious of the two, and it is motivated by a long-term vision. This group’s practitioners understand that the financial aspects of blockchains are only a means to an end, a way to align incentives toward a larger goal. They realize the real potential in using blockchains is to build better networks, and therefore a better internet. These people are quieter and don’t get as much attention, but they are the ones who will have lasting effects.”

• “Casino Culture”:

  • Focuses on short-term speculation and quick wealth, louder but with limited impact on technological development.
  • Original quote:

    “One group, which I call the casino, is often the much louder of the two, and it is primarily interested in trading and speculation. At its worst, this culture of gambling has led to catastrophes like the bankruptcy of the crypto exchange FTX. This group gets most of the media attention, which influences the public image for the entire category.”