Web3 social media is exploding. Forget the social media giants – new decentralized apps put you in control. As Big Tech collects data and censors content, trailblazing platforms embrace encryption, ownership, and transparency. Users are flocking for a reason.
These aren’t pipe dreams either. The top Web3 social apps boast millions of active users already. Powerful crypto incentives engage communities. Slick interfaces rival old guard platforms. And open source protocols enable unprecedented user control.
In fact, 438 Web 3.0 companies have raised over $4.5 billion in funding so far. These startups offer services and technologies associated with web 3.0 and have received a combined total of more than $4.5 billion in investment funding since the advent of web 3.0. This indicates a significant shift in investor interest towards the decentralized web and its potential.
This seismic shift is just getting started. We scoured the market for the most disruptive apps at the frontier of Web3 social engagement. From rich features to surging adoption, these 11 platforms demonstrate the new paradigm. Read on for the breakout stars primed to eclipse Web2 this decade. The future of social is here.
TLDR; ​​The Best Web3 Social Media Apps
- Forget Big Tech – new Web3 social apps put users in control of data and content
- Top apps like Lens, Damus, and Chingari already have millions of users
- Features like encryption, monetization, and censorship resistance attract users
- Slick interfaces and crypto incentives drive engagement
- Open source protocols enable community-owned platforms
- Adoption is still early but momentum is growing fast
- Explore apps like DSCVR for governance rights and Bison Relay for privacy
- Paragraph and Lenster cater to creators building engaged communities
- Mirror and Farcaster provide familiar UIs to onboard Web3 social
- Now is the time to join Web3 social networks aligning with your values
- Help shape user-owned platforms as the future of social media unfolds
The 11 Best Web3 Social Media Apps in 2023
1. Lens Protocol
With over 100,000 active profiles, Lens Protocol has quickly built up a strong user base indicative of a platform providing real value to users. The open source, Polygon-based tech stack enables full user ownership of content and monetization capabilities like “mirroring” and portability to distribute anywhere. These features cater perfectly to digital creators seeking more control and revenue streams.
Lens’ underlying technology focuses on decentralization for censorship resistance while still prioritizing usability with gasless transactions. The modular architecture also allows integration with 100+ apps to drive network effects.
As an open source protocol, Lens benefits from contributions from developers worldwide. The core Lens team actively develops features like encrypted DMs, on-chain roles, and embedded editing. They also operate “Lens Grants” to fund third-party development. This developer support will be key to improving the protocol over time.
2. Damus
Damus launched recently but has already accrued over 500,000 profiles, demonstrating strong product-market fit for a private, decentralized messaging app. The Nostr-based protocol offers end-to-end encryption and identifies users by public keys rather than names/handles.
This cryptographic, metadata-minimizing approach enhances privacy and censorship resistance on the network. Usability is maintained through cross-platform apps like Farcaster. Messaging and eventual group chats are the key features as Damus focuses on secure communications.
Nostr is fully open source, allowing developers worldwide to build clients and contribute. Damus itself was created through these efforts, showcasing Nostr’s development velocity. The project roadmap includes bridges, identity mechanisms, reputation systems, and incentive models to boost engagement. Nostr’s model facilitates permissionless innovation that will expand Damus’s capabilities over time.
3. Chingari
As a top 20 downloaded app worldwide on Google Play, Chingari lays claim to an expansive user base – 40 million monthly active users and 5 million daily. This Indian video-sharing app attracts users with AR filters and content creation options. The recent migration to Aptos will enable new Web3 features to deepen engagement.
Chingari combines entertainment social networking with Web3 ownership through its $GARI token rewards. Features like NFT galleries and multi-chain wallets are in development. The modular design will incorporate third-party apps down the road as well.
The Chingari team actively iterates on the product with revamps to the UI, camera, editing tools, and feed. The wider community can also build plug-ins and mini-apps for the platform. With ample funding and a clear roadmap, Chingari is poised to engage its huge user base with novel features for the Indian market and beyond.
4. Taki
Although smaller than some peers, Taki has steadily grown its base to over 800,000 users. The Solana-based app incentivizes engagement through social tokens – users earn TAKI tokens for creating content and interacting. They can exchange TAKI for influencer coins or governance rights.
This Web3-native tokenomics design creates a participatory social economy. Taki also offers features like posts, tipping, chatting, and audio rooms to enable community interaction. Ongoing development will expand capabilities.
As an open source project, Taki accepts contributions from developers globally. The core team runs scaling challenges with bounties to fund development, engaging the community. Planned features like DAOs, creator NFTs, metaverse integrations, and layer-2 infrastructure will help propel active growth of the network.
5. DSCVR
With approximately 200,000 users, DSCVR has found product-market fit as a Web3 community platform modeled after Reddit. User participation makes DSCVR stand out – not only do users control the content, but they govern the platform itself.
DSCVR leverages Internet Computer for speed and security. The architecture facilitates community-led development; users can build sub-communities with custom features. DSCVR also implements Web3 native tokens and decentralized identity.
As an open source project, contributions are crowdsourced. Users drive upgrades like reputation systems, ensuing DSCVR evolves to meet their needs. The active community also provides scaling solutions like Hyperspace and integration with other apps via links and embeds. Ongoing growth rests in the hands of motivated users.
6. Bison Relay
As a newly launched product, Bison Relay currently has a smaller but dedicated user base. However, its messaging app fills a clear gap for private, encrypted communications with censorship resistance.
True to its Decred roots, Bison Relay implements cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs for privacy. Conversations cannot be surveilled or traced. Features are still limited to messaging, but provide essential secure utility.
Decred funds development, but Bison Relay is open source for community contributions. Enhancements like group chats, identity mechanisms, and incentivization are in progress to drive adoption. The laser focus on resilient messaging gives Bison Relay valuable expertise in this niche.
7. Paragraph
Paragraph transforms traditional social media audiences into engaged communities. Creators build close relationships with fans who become paying “members”. Paragraph facilitates this with Web3 social tokens that offer membership perks including exclusive content, discounts, and access.
Built on Solana, Paragraph places creators in control. An elegant UI provides accessible user onboarding to Web3 benefits like monetization. Memberships turn passive followers into active participants.
Paragraph’s team actively develops the product with upgrades to profiles, tokens, governance, notifications, and more. A $10M developer fund also supports integrating third-party apps. Positioned at the intersection of social and Web3, Paragraph makes community accessible for the next generation of creators.
8. Lenster
As a breakout app on Lens Protocol, Lenster serves as a proving ground for this open social graph. An active user base engages deeply with features like posting, commenting, and collecting NFT profile pictures.
Built on the same technology stack as Lens, Lenster inherits benefits like ownership over content and social graph data. Lens Protocol also enables seamless integration with other apps through standards like signed profiles and social NFTs.
Co-creation by the Lens and Lenster teams powers rapid development. Lenster provides the consumer front-end to guide Lens Protocol upgrades. Priority features include notifications, search, native charts, and home page customization. Lenster’s growth fuels the broader Lens ecosystem.
9. Mirror
Mirror brings decentralized publishing to the masses with a polished Medium-style UI. Readers engage with a variety of content as on traditional platforms, while writers retain ownership through blockchain-verified credentials.
Built on Terra, Mirror offers permissionless monetization. Writers can sell subscriptions, operate paywalls, and receive patronage without intermediaries. Readers can support creators directly through tokens or NFTs.
Mirror’s open source Curation and Authentication contracts allow community upgrades. The team actively develops consumer-facing features like comment threading, newsletter integration, and statistics. Third-party clients also expand access. Mirror builds on proven social interactions while unlocking Web3 benefits.
10. Farcaster
Farcaster aims to be an accessible entrypoint to decentralized social networks. The open protocol enables open source clients to provide familiar features people expect from social apps today.
Built on Algorand for scalability, Farcaster uses decentralized identifiers for censorship-resistant accounts. Features like posts, messaging, and communities provide utility for users to connect. Farcaster focuses on a smooth onboarding experience.
As an open standard, Farcaster benefits from development by its creator Anthropic and community contributors worldwide. Client projects like Farcaster Desktop and Farcaster Mobile iterate quickly to demonstrate possibilities. The collaborative ethos drives rapid experimentation and feature development.
11. Emojam
As a novel NFT platform, Emojam is attracting engaged early adopters. Users create audio stickers and collectors trade them as emoji-like collectibles. Recent integrations also allow sharing stickers on social apps.
Built on Immutable X, Emojam combines NFT ownership with social interaction. The app facilitates browsing, minting, and trading sticker NFTs. Secondary sales provide monetization, while QR gift codes drive virality.
Emojam’s team actively releases new sticker packs, integrations, and contests to engage users. Plans are underway to enable P2P gifting and on-chain identities. As the first platform for audio sticker NFTs, Emojam can leverage this niche to drive adoption at the intersection of Web3 and social.
Wrapping Up: The 11 Best Web3 Social Media Apps in 2023
The top Web3 social apps make decentralization tangible. Take control of your content and data. Build authentic communities. Monetize your work. The possibilities stretch far as open innovation unlocks social media’s potential.
While adoption is still early, momentum is undeniable. Millions have glimpsed the future and want more. Expect these platforms to rapidly evolve with new features and integrations. Mainstream adoption awaits.
Now is the time to explore Web3 social media. Find an app that resonates with your needs and interests. Join communities that center your values. Help shape the platforms owned by users, not corporations. The foundations are laid for an open, transparent, empowering vision of social connection. Your participation will light the way.
