The internet has been one of the most significant technological developments in the history of humankind. We’ve been given the ability to access information, connect with people, and use it as a platform for business through the internet. The idea of the internet was to provide a platform where people are free to express themselves but have you ever wondered how much freedom we actually have online?’

In Season 6, Episode 41 of The Making Bank Podcast, Justin Rezvani dives into the concept of digital freedom. Justin Rezvani is the founder and CEO of ZION, a decentralized and open-source social media network that is built upon Bitcoin. Through ZION, he aims to change social media as we currently know it by creating a true peer-to-peer social network. In order to fully grasp Justin’s plan, we first need to understand what it means to be digitally free.

What Is Digital Freedom?
The internet is mostly free to use, but when it comes to the freedom of our identities and expression, the freedom starts to fade away. Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 are terms commonly used to describe the ever-changing web better. Simply put, Web 1.0 was all about reading and getting information. Web 2.0 was about reading, writing, and creating — the emphasis lay on user-generated content. The rise of social networks was all a part of Web 2.0; it was a change in how users could create and share content. Web 3.0 is now concerned with reading, writing, creating, and owning content on the internet. Web 3.0 is the evolution of the web into a space that allows users to create content and own it, for example, in the form of NFTs.

The reason behind wanting to be digitally free is that most forms of communication and platforms for expression available on the internet are owned by the big, centralized tech giants of the world. Our data on social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or YouTube, are all regulated and owned by the respective companies. We don’t actually own the accounts and profiles that we use — the companies that own the social networks can shut us off whenever they want to.

These companies are the same companies that have the ability to take your data and sell it for big money. That’s why now it’s more important than ever to regain our privacy online and live a digitally free life. Justin explains how he intends to give people the privacy they deserve through his company. ZION is entirely open-source, which gives anyone the access to go over the algorithms and code being used by ZION. Justin emphasizes building trust with people — he believes that people deserve to know the truth and that companies should be more transparent when it involves our personal data.

What Can You Do To Be Free Online?
Justin mentions that being free online requires effort on our end. There are things you can do to be free online, but it isn’t the easiest process. However, suppose you put in the effort. In that case, you’ll realize that it was well worth the effort since you get to live a life that isn’t controlled or manipulated by tech companies — you’ll be able to experience a truly digitally free life.
Being free on social media means you have freedom of speech and free expression. Social media networks have the authority to censor you if they deem it necessary. While you don’t necessarily need to be removed from a platform to get censored, you can be suppressed so that your voice won’t be heard on the platform. Being connected through social media is an integral part of our lives, but you can choose which platforms you want to use to represent yourself. With the recent purchase of Twitter, Elon Musk claimed that he wants Twitter to be a platform that protects free speech. At the end of the day, all your data on Twitter will still be owned by Elon Musk and Twitter; that’s why Justin Rezvani started ZION. ZION is the first social network of its kind. Justin believes in changing the way users interact with each other; through ZION, he aims to make communicating online more human.

So if your online identity, privacy, and expression matter to you, are you going to continue to allow the world’s tech giants to steal, manipulate, and sell your online data? The time to get your privacy back is now. Own your identity online and start living a life that’s unapologetically free.