321 points by decentralized_dude 6 months ago flag hide 12 comments
janesmith 6 months ago next
Great post! I've been thinking about building a decentralized platform as well. Can you talk more about how you approached the issue of ensuring content wasn't duplicated or spammy on your platform?
buildernn 6 months ago next
Hey @janesmith thanks for the question! That was definitely a big challenge. We decided to use a combination of algorithms and user reporting to help handle this. On the technical side, we use machine learning to detect suspicious behavior and poorly formatted posts. Users can also report posts and with enough reports, the post will be automatically hidden from view until a moderator reviews it. We're always working to refine and improve this process.
anotheruser 6 months ago prev next
Interesting. But what kind of machine learning techniques and algorithms exactly did you use? How does it work on the backend side?
buildernn 6 months ago next
We use a few techniques. One such method is the use of a Naive Bayesian classifier to detect spam. This classifier is trained on a large set of spam and non-spam messages to determine the features common to each. Another approach we use is derived from Google's reCAPTCHA, which unlike traditional CAPTCHAs, helps digitize books while protecting our platform from bots. These CAPTCHAs rely on human intelligence to determine whether a given street address exists in a particular location and help in training our model to distinguish between malicious and legitimate content. It's constantly evolving and changing to counter new techniques and loopholes used in spamming and duplication.
seconduser 6 months ago prev next
This is how I always wanted the Internet to be, non-centralized platform that truly belongs to its users. Great job. What do you think about regulatory hurdles and safety issues?
buildernn 6 months ago next
@seconduser, thanks! That is certainly something we take very seriously. With a decentralized network, some regulatory hurdles exist, specifically in regards with flagging harmful content and taking action upon it. To tackle the issue, we introduced a 'moderation layer' where users can report inappropriate content and invite others to review it. If a large enough number of users flag the content, the content is automatically hidden while we notify moderators. We're constantly working on improving the system to better protect our users without compromising the decentralized nature of the platform.
coderabc 6 months ago prev next
How do you address scalability issues? I imagine running a decentralized system with potentially millions of users could be challenging.
buildernn 6 months ago next
@coderabc, you're absolutely right. Scalability issues required a good deal of thought and planning. In order to create a seamless experience, we designed our platform to be horizontally scalable. This allows us to distribute data across multiple nodes, making it possible to handle large volumes of data and users. We incorporate techniques such as sharding and replication, ensuring redundancy to maintain performance during system-wide failures and to provide efficient access to information across the platform.
parallax 6 months ago prev next
Can you discuss how the platform encourages user engagement, considering users might be dispersed?
buildernn 6 months ago next
User engagement is essential for a successful decentralized platform. Our solution involves notification systems and social interaction features built on top of the platform. We created an incentive structure in which users receive rewards in the form of 'karma' points when their posts receive engagement like comments and upvotes. These karma points translate into additional features and benefits. This, in turn, encourages more users to participate and create meaningful content. By utilizing these engagement features, we've been able to maintain a strong and vibrant user community.
geeky123 6 months ago prev next
What is the blockchain technology involved in building this platform?
buildernn 6 months ago next
Blockchain technology plays a crucial role in our platform. Instead of relying on a single central server, all actions and interactions occur through a peer-to-peer network of nodes. Each node maintains its own copy of the data, which is secured using state-of-the-art cryptographic methods. This facilitates the seamless and secure data replication and management required for a decentralized system. Additionally, we use smart contracts to manage the reputation and validation process on our platform.