A popular social media personality known for poking fun at “woke” culture has put his money where his mouth is and started a social media platform to “promote free and open conversations”.
Zion is described as a decentralized social network built on Bitcoin, is designed to facilitate the free and open flow of content and payments between creators and their audiences.
#Bitcoin is how we exit the system pic.twitter.com/7Y0OvfpQeJ
— justin⚡️ Zion (@justinrezvani) February 12, 2022
“Social media companies extract billions of dollars in revenue by serving as the “middleman” between content creators and their fans, followers and subscribers,” the creator claims on the website..” Zion challenges their monopoly as brokers of online content, just as Bitcoin challenges banks’ monopoly as facilitators of financial transactions.”
“We believe that technology should serve people, not the other way around. That’s why communities on Zion are fully independent micro-economies that unlock opportunities for anyone to create wealth. Zion was launched to make it easier for creative people to pursue what they love and share their passion with the world.”
Zion applies the principles of cryptocurrency to social media by encrypting “transactions of content”.
“Because exchanges of content are secured by the same cryptography that underpins financial transactions, all communication on Zion is instant, immutable, and untraceable,” the platform creators explained. “No individual user can use another’s data to manipulate their experience on the platform. Instead, each Zion user has an equal opportunity to earn income by bringing value to the network”
“Zion has adopted the Manila Principles On Intermediary Liability, a digital bill of rights outlined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and endorsed by 300+ leaders and organizations. These principles are a guideline for protecting free expression and creating an open environment for innovation. We hope to incite a network effect of companies and organizations adopting the principles to further Internet freedom globally.”
The platform creators stated the unusual name.
“Since antiquity, the term Zion has represented a utopia, a fortress, and a harmonious sanctuary of peace and refuge,” they explained on the website. “For the Matrix fans, it is also the last city NOT controlled by machines, the last remaining human city.”
The term Zion has also historically been associated with freedom. During the Jewish revolts against the Romans in 67 CE, the Jews minted coins engraved with the phrase, “Herut Zion” (Freedom for Zion).
Users must pay to use the platform and it takes longer to download as users are essentially buying a node (which Zion has to purchase from the lightning network) and turning their device into a mini-server in the network.
Though Zion is one of the names of Jerusalem, as the verse in Isaiah suggests, it refers to the universal aspect of the city that implies that in the days of the Messiah, much like the internet, Jerusalem will become the information center of the world:
In the days to come, The Mount of Hashem‘s House Shall stand firm above the mountains And tower above the hills; And all the nations Shall gaze on it with joy.And the many peoples shall go and say: “Come, Let us go up to the Mount of Hashem, To the House of the God of Yaakov; That He may instruct us in His ways, And that we may walk in His paths.” For instruction shall come forth from Tzion, The word of Hashem from Yerushalayim. Isaiah 2:2-3
JP Sears, known online as AwakenWithJP, is an American YouTuber, comedian, life coach, and businessman. Sears produces satirical videos about wellness and poking fun at the “woke” American Left. Sears has spoken against vaccine mandates, saying, “This is not about vaccine or anti-vax” and is instead about “a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”
More information is available on the Zion website.
