Web3 is leading a revolution of the mobile app landscape

Introduction

How many industries have been touched by web3 innovative transformations? A lot already. Whether it is health, education, finance, agriculture, etc, there tends to be a presence of web3 everywhere. The mobile app industry is really huge and it is still growing. Interestingly, web3 has made and continues to make its presence felt in this huge sector.

It is note-worthy to talk about innovations in the mobile app industry because this is perhaps the sector that has the most direct effect or impact on most people's lives. Everyone that owns a smartphone interacts with mobile apps daily. So if web3 eventually takes over this sector in the future, there that would be a huge door of opportunity towards blockchain mass adoption.

So in this article, we want to see the current state of mobile apps and take note of how much revolution this space is currently experiencing as a result of blockchain technology and web3. We will also see how this revolution is creating some awesome economic opportunities for everyone that gets involved now.

Current state of mobile apps

Smartphones are only useful because they power a number of mobile apps that are used to do everything. There are apps for camera, calendar, map, messaging, banking, note, and the rest of them. Each mobile device comes pre-loaded with system apps. Then, the owner would have to download and install many other third-party apps from online places like Google PlayStore and Apple store depending on the OS of the device.

Whether system apps or third-party apps, the providers usually collect user data as they interact with the apps. Such data could endanger privacy as they are shared with business partners and advertisers. Even when app terms promise to respect user privacy, we know such promises often ends in paper. The barrage of unsolicited ads and mails suggest app providers sell user data.

Apart from endangering user privacy, the revenue generated from monetization of user data is often kept by the app makers. The inversive and massive number of mobile app ads suggests that this is big business. Almost every mobile app a user downloads come with ads. Some are so annoying that the user experience is destroyed by ads popping up here and there.

Also, mobile apps often restricts users with a number of terms and conditions. If users are perceived to have broken any terms, they are frozen out of the app. Even premium users have had to live with this experience. Mobile apps of today might still install other apps without the knowledge of the user. This extra installations sometimes are malicious programs that do harm to the user in one way or the other. For example consider security.

Sometimes, apps or the ones they secretly install are not secure enough. Users have lost valuable personal data collected by mobile apps on their device. And at other times, secondary apps installed by a main app could steal such data and expose them to unauthorized persons. This could lead to massive loss of assets or damage the users privacy.

Most important, mobile apps are owned by the companies that make them. The infrastructures used to operate these mobile apps such as data storage tools are also owned by organizations or individuals. Thus, the owner makes all the laws about the app use, and also see the user as a piece of their own property. This is a major problem that has existed until the arrival of decentralized apps.

The above paragraphs tries to capture what mobile apps look like in its current state. While those are not all, but they represent a collective impression of mobile apps that could be confirmed by any users today.

Introducing Decentralized Apps

How about apps that are not owned or controlled by a single entity such as a large tech organization? How about a mobile app that gives users the full control and ownership of their data? How about apps that are more secure and uses a technology that enhances user privacy? Likely, all of the above only applies to decentralized apps (DAps)

Just like every other mobile or web application, DApps help users to complete tasks on their device. It could be to make a money transfer, publish a social media post, verify identity, etc. The one major difference with normal apps is that DApps are powered by blockchain technology. Thus, DApps inherit all the properties of blockchains such as decentralization, sovereign ownership of data, tokenization, etc.

The many features of blockchains which are inherent in DApps make them special and distinct from ordinary apps. Because these features make DApps better in all respects, the revolution it is driving is a most-welcome one. Consider in a little more details, a few of the ways that DApps are creating better user experiences than centralized apps.

Empowering users through decentralization

With centralized apps, the app maker is in full charge. They own the app and also owns the user. Centralized apps can remove the user, collect their data, remove their content, and even endanger their privacy. With DApps, there is a power shift because there it is no-owner-user model.

Dapps are built on decentralized networks of nodes managed by the community. That implies that instead of being owned or controlled by just one entity, DApps are managed over a distributed network of community participants. This gives users the same powers of control that centralized apps creators own.

With a decentralization comes a technology where data is not stored on a sever managed by a company. Instead, data is stored on a distributed network of computers. Each node stores a version of the DApp or blockchain state. Thus, shutting down a node in the network does not affect the DApp or its data. As such, DApps cannot be owned or controlled by any one person.

As a result of decentralization, DApps are censorship resistant. That means no single person can stop a users from accessing data on the DApp. It also means that data stored or managed through the DApp cannot be deleted or modified by any tech admin.

Decentralization gives DApp users a voice that cannot be silenced. Even if their opinions or views are different, such opinions are always acknowledged and respected. This is a huge innovation and is different from how our apps run today. DApps empower users to have a say on how virtually every decision-making that would affect them as a user. In centralized apps, companies that own the apps make all the decisions and rules. But with DApps, every user takes part in decision-making.

Incentivization and rewards for engagement

For centralized apps, there is often no rewards for any contributions made by users. Instead, the app owners exploit users by monetizing their data without their consent. DApps have changed the entire formula. Instead of just being users or consumers, DApps created a community of active engagers and contributors.

Every users of a DApp can add value to the platform in various ways. For example, Users could participate in marketing campaigns to get spread the word. Users could be first time testers of any new features of the DApp. Users have a lot of other active roles they play for which they expect to be rewarded. Hence, DApps transformed users from customers to active contributors of the ecosystem.

In order to have a way to reward users, DApps make use of a blockchain feature known as tokenization. Almost each DApp has a token which serves as a fuel to power all economic activity on the platform. Often, these tokens are used to reward users for the value they add. DApp tokens are cryptocurrencies that could be exchanged for fiat or used as a utility to open up premium features of the DApp. Either ways, it is a reward that opens up economic opportunities for holders.

Tokens in DApps made users more of a part of the project than just customers. Tokens also created a reason to stay active and valuable to the DApp community. Users are thus always ready and willing to share their expertise or contribute in other practical ways to the DApp. It creates a community of users where everyone is an active contributor and not just a customer. With this, DApps have leveraged the skills, time and expertise of users to grow their audience, make required improvements and get better along the way. These are not possibilities with centralized mobile apps.

Conclusion

The above represents a little outlook into how DApps are leading a welcomed transformation in the space. Centralized apps are often overwhelmed with issues like endangering privacy, monetization of user data and lots of censorship. With DApps, soverign ownership of data is all but guranteed. Users have more control over their digital assets. When it comes to rewards, DApps have created a community of active contributors that earn tokens for adding much value to the ecosystem.

Althoug DApps have hurdles to overcome much like every other technology, every crypto enthusiast is really thrilled with the opportunity handed over to us by this transformation in the mobile app space.