Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP)

Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP)

Summary

DSNP stands for Decentralized Social Networking Protocol, which is an open protocol and potential standard for social networking and social media. It is not owned or controlled by any one person or company, allowing anyone to build on it or use it. DSNP is stewarded by Project Liberty Institute, a 501(c)(3).

DSNP is an open-source social media protocol designed to decentralize data ownership, allow easier cross-platform interaction, and let users regain control over their personal data. This includes posts, connections, and messages. The decentralized approach allows users to retain ownership of their information and move it between platforms without relying on a single provider.

OnAir Post: Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP)

About

10 High-Level DSNP Concepts

  1. Users are given a numeric ID known as their DSNP User Id which may or may not be linked to or associated with their real-world identity.
  2. User data is managed and secured via a set of control keys typically connected in a public/private key pair. The control keys are owned and managed solely by the user.
  3. DSNP is designed to run on a consensus-based system such as a blockchain. This allows the system to be truly decentralized—meaning that users, not system operators, have control and agency over their data, and changes to the state of the system are public and immutable.
  4. DSNP users can delegate tasks such as managing social connections or submitting posts and content to the applications they use. This means that tasks that require specialized technical knowledge or have associated costs can be performed by service providers acting under the user’s explicit agreement (which the user may revoke at any time).
  5. User-generated content is handled via Announcements–public or private declarations or directions published to the system.
  6. Updates or changes to the system are expressed as State Change Records–the observable output of a DSNP system.
  7. Part of the data stored by each user is their social graph, which contains information about all the public and private relationships between the user and others in the system.
  8. DSNP is designed to allow users to easily and seamlessly access their social graph and other user-centric data with any compatible application—user data and content is not just portable between applications, but fully interoperable.
  9. Applications and service providers (those to whom tasks are delegated) compete in an open marketplace for users. This allows users to choose the applications and providers who best serve their needs, and grant or revoke delegations at any time.
  10. Applications and service providers collect and send Announcements in batches, reducing operational cost and enhancing scalability.

Source: DSNP Website

What is a DSNP System?

A DSNP system is a (1) state machine that generates an (2) ongoing, (3) publicly observable and (4) verifiable (5) stream of state change records in response to (6) authenticated public input. To take each of these terms one by one:

  1. State Machine: The system maintains a consistent, deterministic set of data (state) in response to protocol communications.
  2. Ongoing: The system runs continually.
  3. Publicly Observable: System activities are transparent and may be openly viewed by developers, creators and users.
  4. Verifiable: The authenticity of those sending messages is recorded and can be verified. While these identities may remain pseudonymous, and the real world identity of the user may not be revealed, each account’s activity can be verified to come only from that account.
  5. Stream of State Change Records: The system produces a continuous log of all changes that occur, such as account Id creation, messages sent, delegation, and so forth.
  6. Authenticated Public Input: Refers to the open, decentralized nature of DSNP applications, which ensures that users have control and agency over their data.

In social networking terms, one can think of a DSNP system as one that continuously records everything that happens, including the identities of the participants (identity), the relationships they declare to other participants, the messages they send, when they are sent, and who they are for. This is true whether or not that participant is sending data themselves or delegating that task to someone else to do it on their behalf. A DSNP system does its recordkeeping in public, even if some of the data it manages may be private (encrypted).

Web Links

The DSNP Difference

How DSNP differs from AT Protocol and ActivityPub, and how DSNP can act as a bridge to create truly decentralized social. by Jeanette Depatie from website.

Economic Viability

One of the main differences between DSNP and AT Protocol/ActivityPub is in the revenue models they can support.

While DSNP is also a 501(c)3-stewarded protocol with charitable donations covering advisor meetings and community communications, DSNP can support any number of revenue models for applications and network participants. App developers may choose any monetization strategy they see fit so long as they clearly and transparently divulge this strategy to would-be users on the platform. At the next level, DSNP end users may choose whatever app provider meets with their personal needs. Thus monetization strategies are both presented and selected in a free-market system which may change to accommodate different market conditions and whatever end users are currently willing to support.

Decentralization

A bridge built between DSNP and ActivityPub and AT Protocol could result in greater decentralization for these two federated systems. DSNP could potentially offer greater data resilience and resistance to censorship.

Data Persistence

It is conceivable that connections built between DSNP, AT Protocol and ActivityPub could result in a hybrid system. This hybrid system could afford greater data persistence and resilience than is currently enjoyed by either of the federated systems.

Censorship

DSNP users are less vulnerable to censorship, as the delegation model allows them to simply elect to share access to their data with any willing application provider. Each of these providers is expected to provide clear instructions regarding their terms of service. And should a user choose to leave one provider or application, the process of moving to another is quite simple. As all important information the user needs to stay connected to their DSNP identity and relationships is stored among all nodes of the system, the user can move from one application to another without fear that their essential data will be lost.

More Information

Wikipedia


For the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol by Unfinished Labs, see Frank McCourt (executive) § Technology.
3D Social Networking
Social Networking

Distributed Social Networking Protocol (DSNP) is an open-source social media protocol designed to decentralize data ownership to allow for easier cross-platform interaction, including posts, connections, and messages.

Decentralization allows users to retain ownership of their information and move it between platforms without being beholder to a single provider.[1] This interoperability enables users to manage their profiles and social connections seamlessly, contrasting with traditional centralized social media platforms.

Interoperability is a key feature of the Distributed Social Networking Protocol, altering how users interact within digital social environments.[2] Unlike traditional social media models, DSNP enables individuals to interact across different platforms seamlessly, without the need to create and manage multiple accounts. This approach eliminates the separation of users within isolated platform ecosystems.

Unlike centralized platforms that confine users and their data to a single environment, DSNP offers a framework for open digital interactions. It allows users to maintain a consistent social identity across multiple applications, enabling seamless social activities beyond the limitations of proprietary systems.

The Distributed Social Networking Protocol (DSNP) emphasizes privacy and security by offering users detailed control over their personal information. It functions on an application-agnostic model, similar to the SMTP protocol for email, encouraging the development of interoperable applications. Using encryption and permission-based access systems, DSNP ensures that users determine who can view and interact with their data, supporting their ability to manage their digital presence.

DSNP has emerged as a compelling alternative to traditional social media, with distributed networks like Bluesky and Mastodon gaining significant traction. These platforms have attracted users seeking alternatives to centralized social media, particularly those disillusioned with platforms like X (formerly Twitter).

The growing adoption reflects a broader shift towards decentralized social networking, where users prioritize data ownership, privacy, and cross-platform interoperability. Platforms like Bluesky, which uses the AT Protocol, and Mastodon, which utilizes ActivityPub, exemplify this trend by offering users more control over their digital social experiences and challenging the traditional centralized social media model.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ “DSNP – Decentralized Social Networking Protocol”. dsnp.org. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  2. ^ “Reimagining Social Media: The Promise of Distributed Social Networking Protocol (DSNP)”. Social Media. Retrieved 2024-12-30.
  3. ^ “Decentralized Social Media Models: Comparing Bluesky’s AT Protocol and Mastodon’s ActivityPub”. Technology. Retrieved 2024-12-30.


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_Social_Networking_Protocol

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