Social media was supposed to connect us. Instead, it has turned into a system of control — over our data, our feeds, and our digital identities.
A recent poll we conducted via Ice Open Network’s X account asked our community what worries them most about centralized social media. Given that our community is already highly aware of the issues with big platforms and largely supports decentralized alternatives, the results weren’t surprising. But what’s striking is how closely they align with broader industry trends, given that most social media users aren’t necessarily blockchain-savvy.
🤔 What’s the biggest drawback of centralized social media platforms?
— Ice Open Network (@ice_blockchain) March 10, 2025
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Out of nearly 2,900 respondents in our poll:
- 44% cited privacy and security as their biggest concern, hinting at mistrust — or, at the very least, discomfort — in third parties custodying their data.
- 22% pointed to ads and data exploitation, reflecting frustration over invasive tracking.
- 20% were most worried about censorship and algorithmic control.
- 12% felt limited user autonomy was the greatest issue.
These concerns aren’t just theoretical. Studies show that 76% of people distrust social media companies with their data. Meanwhile, regulators are stepping in with laws like the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) and the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) to enforce stricter protections. Users are demanding change, and for good reason.
The Broken Social Media Model
For years, the trade-off was simple: use a platform for free, and in return, accept ads. But that model has evolved into something far more exploitative.
- Privacy has become a casualty in the pursuit of data-driven ad revenue.
- Algorithms dictate what we see, often favoring outrage over meaningful content.
- Content creators remain at the mercy of shifting policies, with no real ownership over their digital presence.
Even as platforms scramble to introduce AI-powered transparency tools and user-curated algorithms, the fundamental issue remains: centralized control means users are never truly in charge.
This is why alternative platforms are gaining traction. With the US TikTok ban arguably among the largest contributing factors, decentralized social media platforms saw their popularity in the latter half of 2024 skyrocket, with DeSoc poster child Bluesky marking 12,400% growth in their user base within last year.
Everyday social media users — now painfully aware that their data has become a bargaining chip — are proactively exploring decentralized socials. Yet blockchain-based identity systems, encrypted messaging, and decentralized content ownership solutions remain, to a large extent, the remit of privacy-paranoid blockchain devs and crypto bros.
We need real solutions for real, everyday, everyman users, rather than futuristic ideas that solely serve the tech-savvy.
The Shift Toward User Control
Despite growing interest in decentralized alternatives, most still face barriers like technical complexity, slow adoption, and fragmented user experiences. The next generation of social platforms must find the right balance between:
- Privacy-first infrastructure, where user data isn’t exploited.
- Fair content distribution, free from manipulative algorithms.
- Monetization models that benefit creators, not just corporations.
- Transparent governance, so no single entity has unchecked control.
A bleak version of this shift is becoming visible on the Web2 front as major platforms start to feel the pressure. Facebook and Instagram are testing real-time data usage dashboards, as advertisers pull budgets from platforms with murky moderation policies. But it’s slow shift primarily driven by corporate self-preservation rather than genuine user empowerment. In a nutshell, it’s whitewashing.
Web3, where genuine change is happening, faces its own — and perhaps even greater — challenge of making decentralization accessible, intuitive, and scalable for everyday users, whose app usage, habits and expectations have already been shaped by centralized social media giants. It’s a David facing a Goliath with total user base of over five billion, or almost all of the Internet’s 5.5 billion users.
We’re at a threshold where the future of social media can go either way, depending on whether Web2 or Web3 crack their respective challenges.
A Tipping Point
A tipping point is inevitable. The question is whether it will result in a fundamental shift toward user empowerment or yet another cycle of centralized platforms reinventing themselves just enough to maintain control. Web2 giants will continue applying band-aid solutions, hoping to pacify growing discontent while preserving their dominance.
Meanwhile, Web3 alternatives must bridge the usability gap and prove they can offer not just ideological purity but practical, frictionless experiences that rival — or surpass — their centralized counterparts. The future of social media isn’t just about decentralization; it’s about who can redefine digital ownership in a way that makes sense for the everyday user.
The question isn’t whether change is coming — it’s who will lead it. And I’ll bet it will be yours truly, Ice Open Network.