DTube: Steemit User Builds Foundations of a Decentralized YouTube

DTube, the foundation for a decentralized YouTube, is built upon the STEEM blockchain. STEEM was selected for numerous reasons, detailed in the August 11 announcement post made on Steemit by the user @heimindanger. Containing similar features like its bigger brother that the video sharing website is based off, DTube is an in-browser application that allows content creators to earn rewards for their uploads.

Steemit is a project that launched in March 2016, a blockchain-based social media platform. The platform was to the likes of a decentralized Reddit, with users being able to share posts or links to anything. Interesting content naturally made its way to the top, and users could tip the original author as well.

The first of the reasons why DTube was built on top of Steemit was speed; block times on the STEEM blockchain are around three seconds. There are no transactions fees, and there is no barrier of entry, as even users not owning STEEM can participate.

The built-in reward-earning mechanisms of the STEEM cryptocurrency also facilitate the social aspect that DTube is trying to manifest; rewarding users for uploading content.

One flaw of YouTube is that videos are sometimes taken down and the owners of YouTube channels are demonetized by the company. A decentralized version incorporating blockchain technology could stamp out such censorship, given it can gain enough critical mass.