The Future of the Internet Should Respect Your Time—Not Exploit It
Every wallet address, every avatar, almost every like in our web represents a real person with dreams, fears, and aspirations. They are not just data points or economic actors; they are individuals with personal and professional lives. Our lives are rich and complex, and our reality is calling for our attention. For Web3 technology to fully consider our life situations, and create a better society and consider our well-being, we need to put people first.
When we reduce people to wallet addresses or avatars, we risk losing sight of their humanity. We forget that behind every transaction, every interaction, there's a person with a story. A person with hopes and doubts, with loved ones and responsibilities. A life.
Designing Web3 systems that respect and value people means actually recognizing that we are human. It means creating technologies that serve and empower individuals, rather than exploiting or manipulating them.
For sure, our time and attention are precious commodities. Yet, too often, technology demands our constant engagement, sucks reality out of us with notifications and alerts, and drags us into doom-scrolling. This relentless pursuit of our attention can leave us feeling drained, overwhelmed, and disconnected from what truly matters.
I do not raise an eyebrow when I find research that shows that valuing time over money is linked to greater happiness. A study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology found that people who prioritize their time over financial gain tend to be happier. This insight is crucial as we design Web3 technologies. We must create systems that respect and value people's time, helping them lead more fulfilling lives.
”Web3 need to put people first and money second.”
Web3 has the potential to create this world by rethinking how we engage with digital platforms. Instead of endless notifications and attention-grabbing tactics, we can design systems that encourage mindful engagement. This might mean creating platforms that limit notifications to only the most essential updates or that provide tools for users to manage their digital time effectively.
No, I do not want to get constant notifications from Temu just because I once ordered a few bamboo socks. I don’t even want to spin their wheel where we always get bonuses. This is a Web3 issue because we don’t want a luring, complete financialization of our existence online.
I like the idea of decentralized social networks where users can customize their feeds to prioritize content from close connections, reducing the noise and clutter that often dominate traditional social media.
What if Web3 technology could actually help us value the moments when we choose to disconnect? In a world where being "always reachable online" is often seen as a badge of honor, Web3 can encourage us to take a step back into reality.
We need guidance, not be misguided. To be honest, I think even adults need parental guidance on how we spend our time on the web. Clearly, we cannot trust the big technology companies to do the online parenting of us.
The future is promising. Web3 can address the inefficiencies that often plague digital interactions. By using smart contracts and automated processes, we can streamline tasks and reduce the time wasted on repetitive or bureaucratic activities. This not only saves time but also allows people to focus on more meaningful pursuits.
But only if we design systems that respect and value our time, attention, and need to live in reality offline.