A Beginner's Learning in Progress | Chapter One | Understanding Steemit : What I know about it so far

<p dir="auto"><br /> <p dir="auto"><code>It was just about a few days ago when I signed up for Steemit with little knowledge about how it works and what it really is for. Now, as an IT enthusiast and all things random, I decided to write and share what I'm learning about this platform.<br /> <p dir="auto"><code>I can see that Steemit is still a growing network. And beginning to use Steemit now makes it even more exciting. It would be like using the early Facebook in the making; except that in doing so, you get a very interesting incentive. Yes, and it's in dollars.<br /> <p dir="auto"><code>In the meantime, let me share what I have read, researched on and understood about Steemit.<br /> <h1>What is Steemit and What I Know about it So Far<br /> <p dir="auto"><img src="https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://s12.postimg.org/ncyaml5dp/Screen_Shot_2017-07-29_at_6.46.22_PM.png" srcset="https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://s12.postimg.org/ncyaml5dp/Screen_Shot_2017-07-29_at_6.46.22_PM.png 1x, https://images.hive.blog/1536x0/https://s12.postimg.org/ncyaml5dp/Screen_Shot_2017-07-29_at_6.46.22_PM.png 2x" /> <p dir="auto">Steemit is a social media platform and is apparently in its beta yet continuing development as of writing. Founded by Ned Scott and Dan Larimer, it started as a project 2 years ago.  And just to be clear, Steemit is a FREE social media platform. It should not cost you money in order to use it.<br /> <p dir="auto">This platform or tool, if you may call it, resembles the kinds of your famous Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Twitter. Having said that, you might ask yourself why you would need Steemit if you already have the aforementioned?<br /> <p dir="auto">Good question. I think the answer lies in understanding what Steemit was designed for and what it was created for.<br /> <p dir="auto"><br /> <br /> <img src="https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://s20.postimg.org/czupj9v31/Steemit_Infographics.jpg" srcset="https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://s20.postimg.org/czupj9v31/Steemit_Infographics.jpg 1x, https://images.hive.blog/1536x0/https://s20.postimg.org/czupj9v31/Steemit_Infographics.jpg 2x" /> <p dir="auto">Steemit is described on Wikipedia as a social "news" platform. Note that existing social media sites are already likely to contain news, infomercials, and even videos of such, alongside personal interests and even junk information authored by their respective user base. But what sets aside Steemit from the other sites is its incentivised content creation. It means that whatever you post on Steemit earns monetary value when another user clicks on the upvote button. In essence, such reward system should encourage users to create content that matters or simply catches human interest.<br /> <br /> <img src="https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://s20.postimg.org/jetqfy1st/Steemit_Upvote.gif" /> <p dir="auto"><br /> <p dir="auto">Imagine an online social network that contains nothing but useful information, valuable insights and media content of high value to human interest, science and technology. A network where junk information dies in itself for being ignored and unrewarded; a network where users are motivated to post meaningful write ups and comments and re-share information that they themselves have understood to be useful and beautiful. All  these pieces of works in hopes to be easily rewarded by other users that would likewise appreciate the same.<br /> <p dir="auto">Or it could be the otherwise unpleasant, garbage pit of internet trash and channel of tasteless minds that also found their home in Youtube, Facebook and others. I know, it's no longer new to you that the people who run these giant companies and even users themselves still made profit out of it.  And that's one thing Steemit wants to change that it has designed the platform to make its userbase the "beneficiaries of the attention economy".  <br /> <p dir="auto">Apparently, the purpose of Steemit is and would be greatly dictated by the kind of community its userbase belongs to. What's good about that is you belong to this early community and you hold a strong part in driving Steemit to unlocking its potential.<br /> <p dir="auto">Truly, the future of Steemit is yet unclear.  It could be a channel where valuable information would flourish or it could just be yet another gimmicky site strugging to seek attention from the internet community.   <br /> <p dir="auto">In other words, it's up to you on what you want to use Steemit for. You can either find it a purpose better than what its creators intended or just be a passive spectator of it's growing business.<br /> <p dir="auto">In my case, I'm rooting for the shining shimmering  splendid kind of future of Steemit.  Steemit looks promising and revolutionary. And that's what I know about it... so far.  <p dir="auto"><br /> <p dir="auto">Thanks for reading and watch out for my next posts about my learnings. <p dir="auto"><br /> <p dir="auto">If you like what you've read, please don't forget to upvote and reshare. Feel free to leave your comments below by clicking on "Reply" and let me know what you think, your suggestions and anything you feel invaluable to improving this post.<br /> <p dir="auto">Cheers!