BLOCKCHAIN BASED SOCIAL

MEDIA PLATFORM
Project Report

Adeel Ahmed – BSE193081

Ahmad Gulzaib - BSE193068

Akbar Saqlain – BSE193131

Abstract:
This report presents a blockchain-based
social media platform that aims to
address the issues of data privacy and
security that are prevalent in centralized
social media platforms. The platform
utilizes the decentralized nature of
blockchain technology to allow users to
have full control over their data and
content, while also providing a secure and
transparent environment for interactions.
The platform includes features such as
end-to-end encryption, user-controlled
data storage, and built-in rewards for
content creators. The project aims to
create a new standard for social media
platforms, where users can trust that their
data is safe and secure, and where their
voices and contributions are valued. The
report discusses the technical details of
the platform, including the underlying
blockchain infrastructure and the various
features and functionalities that have
been implemented. Overall, the project
demonstrates the potential for blockchain
technology to revolutionize the social
media industry and create a more
equitable and user-centric online
experience.
Introduction:
Blockchain technology has the potential
to revolutionize a wide range of
industries, including social media. By
leveraging the decentralized and secure
2
nature of blockchain, social media
platforms can potentially offer greater
privacy and control for users, as well as
reduced dependence on advertising
revenue.
In this report, we will explore the concept
of a blockchain-based social media
system and how it differs from traditional
social media platforms. We will also
discuss the potential benefits and
challenges of such a system, as well as
some examples of existing blockchain-
based social media projects.
Motivation for Blockchain
Technology:
Traditionally, the database is maintained
by a central Authority or a single
organization that has then complete
Control of the database. It has the ability
to tamper with the Database and
manipulate the data. Usually the authority
Maintaining the database is the same that
has created it and Will be using it. In such
cases the organization has no Motive of
manipulating or falsifying its own data.
But in Other cases involving financial
matters or sensitive data like Voting, it’s
not wise to give total control of database
to a Single authority or organization.
Even if the organization is guaranteed as
to not make Any fraudulent changes to
the database, it is easier for
Hackers to manipulate a central database.
To avoid such
Situations, blockchain makes the
database public, so that Anyone can store
an individual copy of database that can
Always be compared to check for
manipulations. However, The individual
copies must always be updated to
maintain Consistency. To maintain a
consistent decentralized Database,
blockchain utilizes consensus
mechanism.
What is a blockchain-based social
media system?
A blockchain-based social media system
is a platform that utilizes blockchain
technology to store and manage user data
and interactions. In contrast to traditional
social media platforms, which are
typically centralized and controlled by a
single company, a blockchain-based
social media system would be
decentralized and potentially operated by
a network of users.
One of the key features of a blockchain-
based social media system is the use of
cryptographic techniques to secure user
data and protect privacy. With traditional
social media platforms, user data is often
collected and shared with third parties for
targeted advertising and other purposes.
In a blockchain-based system, user data
could be stored in a decentralized
manner, allowing users to have greater
control over their data and who has access
to it.
3
Another potential benefit of a blockchain-
based social media system is the ability to
reward users for their contributions to the
platform. Many traditional social media
platforms rely on advertising revenue as
their primary source of income, which
can lead to a user experience that is
cluttered with ads and lacking in
incentives for content creation. In a
blockchain-based system, users could
potentially earn tokens or other rewards
for creating and curating high-quality
content, fostering a more engaged and
dynamic community.
Technology:
Front-end
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script
src="https://code.jquery.com/jquer
y-3.6.0.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function() {
// Connect to the Ethereum
blockchain
const web3 = new Web3(new
Web3.providers.HttpProvider("http:
//localhost:8545"));
// The address of the smart
contract that handles messaging
const contractAddress =
"0x1234567890abcdef";
// The ABI of the smart
contract
 const contractABI = [{...}];
// Create an instance of the
smart contract
const contract = new
web3.eth.Contract(contractABI,
contractAddress);
// The address of the
account sending the message
const senderAddress =
"0x0987654321fedcba";
// Send the message when the
button is clicked
$("#send-message-
button").click(function() {
// Get the message from
the input field
const message =
$("#message-input").val();
$("#messages").append(`
<p style="border:
1px solid;
padding: 10px;
box-shadow: 5px 5px 8px
black;
border-radius: 10px;
margin: 20px;">Sender :
0x0987654321fedcba <br>
Message :`+message+`
</p>
`);
// Send the message
contract.methods.sendMessa
ge(message).send({ from:
senderAddress })
.then(function(receipt)
{ local database
// The message has
been sent
console.log("Message
sent:", receipt);
})
4
.catch(function(error) {
// There was an error
sending the message
console.log("Error
sending message:", error);
});
});
// Listen for
messageReceived events
contract.events.messageRecei
ved({
filter: {sender:
'0x0987654321fedcba'},
fromBlock: 0
}, function(error, event){
console.log(event); })
.on('data',
function(event){
// Display the received
message in the div
const message =
event.returnValues.message;
$("#messages").append(`
<p style="border:
1px solid;
padding: 10px;
box-shadow: 5px 5px 8px
black;
border-radius: 10px;
margin: 20px;">Sender :
0x0987654321fedcba <br>
Message : ${message}
</p>
`);
})
.on('changed',
function(event){
// remove event from
})
.on('error',
console.error);
});
</script>
</head> <button style="height:
<body> 62px;position:absolute;border-
<div style="width: radius: 0px 15px 15px 0px;border:
100%;height:35em;align-items: 0px;" id="send-message-
center;border-style: button">Send message</button>
dashed;border: </body>
1;overflow:auto;padding: 10;" > </html>
<h1 style="text-align:
center;">Messages</h1>
<div style="padding: 10px;" The JavaScript code listens for the
id="messages" > ‘messageReceived’ event emitted by the
<p style="border: 1px
smart contract, and when a new message
solid;
padding: 10px; is received, it appends the message to the
box-shadow: 5px 5px 8px black; div element with the id "messages".
border-radius: 10px;
margin: 20px;">Sender : The JavaScript code listens for the click
0x0987654321fedcba <br> event on the "Send message" button, and
Message : Hello World
when the button is clicked, it gets the
</p>
<p style="border: 1px solid; value of the input field with the id
padding: 10px; "message-input" and passes it to the
box-shadow: 5px 5px 8px black; sendMessage function of the smart
border-radius: 10px;
contract.
margin: 20px;">Sender :
0x95123sadaxcf <br>
Back-end
Message : Hello World
</p>
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;
<p style="border: 1px solid;
padding: 10px;
box-shadow: 5px 5px 8px black;
border-radius: 10px;
contract Message {
margin: 20px;">Sender :
0x95123sadaxcf <br>
struct MessageStruct {
Message : Hello World
</p> address sender;
</div>
</div> string message;
<br>
}
<textarea style="width:
90%;height: 50px;resize:
none;border-radius: 15px 0px 0px
15px;padding: 5px;" type="text" mapping(address => MessageStruct)
id="message-input"></textarea>
public messages;

5

function sendMessage(string memory
_message) public {
messages[msg.sender] =
MessageStruct(msg.sender, _message);
}
function getAllMessages() public
view returns (address[] memory, string[]
memory) {
address[] memory addresses = new
address[](address(0));
string[] memory messages = new
string[](string.empty);
uint i = 0;
for (address sender in messages) {
addresses.push(sender);
messages.push(messages[sender].messag
e);
i++;
} utilizes a cryptocurrency called STEEM
return (addresses, messages);
}
} offer greater privacy and control for
6
The smart contract has a struct called
‘MessageStruct’ that stores the sender
address and message as a key-value pair.
These are stored in a mapping called
messages. The sendMessage function is
used to add new messages to the
mapping.
The getAllMessages function is a view
function that returns an array of addresses
and an array of messages. The function
uses a for loop to iterate through the
mapping and push the sender address and
message into the respective arrays.
Examples of blockchain-based social
media systems:
There are several examples of
blockchain-based social media projects
that are currently in development or have
already launched.
Steemit is a blockchain-based social
media platform that rewards users for
creating and curating content. The
platform, which launched in 2016,
to reward users for their contributions.
Another example is Minds, a blockchain-
based social media platform that aims to
users. The platform, which launched in
2015, utilizes a cryptocurrency called
MINDS to reward users for their
contributions and allows users to
monetize their content through
subscriptions and paid memberships.
Challenges and considerations
Despite the potential benefits of a
blockchain-based social media system,
there are also challenges and
considerations to take into account.
One challenge is the scalability of such a
system. Blockchain technology has faced
scalability issues in the past, with some
cryptocurrencies struggling to process a
high volume of transactions in a timely
manner. This could potentially be a
problem for a social media platform that
requires fast and efficient processing of
user interactions.
In conclusion, a blockchain-based social
media system has the potential to offer
greater privacy, control, and incentives
for users compared to traditional
platforms. While there are challenges and
considerations to take into account, such
as scalability and network effects, the
concept represents an interesting
alternative to the current centralized
model of social media. As the technology
continues to evolve, it will be interesting
to see the impact that blockchain-based
social media systems have on the
industry.
UI:

Another consideration is the issue of

network effects. Traditional social media
platforms have benefited from strong
network effects, with a large user base
attracting more users and creating a
virtuous cycle. It remains to be seen if a
blockchain-based social media system
could achieve the same level of traction
and user adoption.

Conclusion:

7
References:

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2019.
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2020.
 “Blockchain-based social media:
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