Are Billionaires Ruining Social Media? Vitalik Buterin Spills the Tea

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Ah, the sweet, sweet days of social media when everything was new and innocent… until billionaires got their grubby hands all over it. Ethereum’s own Vitalik Buterin recently threw in his two cents on the ever-increasing toxicity of the online world. Spoiler alert: He’s not thrilled with the current state of things. 😬

Let’s talk about Web 1.0-aka the prehistoric, dial-up internet age. Remember that? No? Well, don’t worry, because Vitalik’s here to remind us that back in those days, the World Wide Web was like a wild west of possibilities. Sure, it was slow, clunky, and websites were basically the digital equivalent of a piece of cardboard, but it had a certain charm. It was *untamed*, free from the Silicon Valley overlords who would later swoop in and make it all about ad revenue, algorithms, and, oh yeah, billionaires.

Good old days?

Now, before you start tearing up and reminiscing about the good ol’ dial-up tones, let’s be real: Web 1.0 wasn’t exactly a technological marvel. It was slow. It was clunky. It was mostly static websites with barely any interactivity. But hey, people loved it! Why? Because it had this “grassroots” spirit-back when we didn’t have Mark Zuckerberg personally inviting us to become addicted to Facebook. Users had to actually *search* for the content they wanted to see instead of being bombarded with it 24/7. Revolutionary, right?

In the early days, people actually had to go hunt down internet forums that suited their vibe. You know, it was like discovering a hidden gem instead of being force-fed random memes that you didn’t even ask for. Simpler times… and maybe a bit better? 🙃

Anti-capitalist or Elitist? Take Your Pick

Fast forward to Web 2.0, where everything is optimized for maximum profits. Gotta love that capitalism, huh? 💸 Websites now have to be profitable-no more ‘just for fun’ projects. So, Vitalik argues, this entire toxic social media culture we’re stuck with today? Yeah, it’s pretty much due to a messy incentive structure. Shocking, I know.

But wait, there’s more! Vitalik also thinks that the current internet is trying a little too hard to please everyone-and by “everyone,” he means the average Joe who’s more interested in quick memes than, say, thoughtful discussions. Meanwhile, Web 1 was more of a clubhouse for well-informed, intellectual “right-curve” types (yes, that’s a real term, and no, I’m not making it up).

Basically, it’s a hot mess, and Vitalik’s like, “Maybe it’s a mix of both of these things causing the chaos.” Thanks for the deep insight, Vitalik, now pass me a drink. 🍸

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2025-09-15 09:04