Decentralization – An Invitation for Inclusivity

Most colonized countries, including the United States, were created on broken foundations. Those most likely to reap the benefits grew up with an abstract privilege based on generational prejudices, appropriating cultures, and superiority complexes. These aspects have continuously shaped the inequality we see in underrepresented groups. We see the inequality spill over into different facets of life, from legislation to digital likeness. And now more than ever, we know how this negatively affects all countries alike. Those who most need their voices heard have been silenced. The first few days into 2021, the US (my home) showed us all on a global scale just how far these privileges can go. The same people showing insensitivity for people who may be different were the same people wanting sympathy. For the general public, this evoked mistrust and anger, making it difficult to see hope in our system. Especially if you’re part of an underrepresented group, it’s clear to see we can no longer stand on this old framework. It’s full of fractured norms and discriminatory processes, and this calls for change. The year is beginning to shift in a positive direction. Globally we are seeing more people having a voice. For years we have seen those fighting for justice. I believe we are stepping into the next era of change for equality and inclusivity. And today, I wish to share one of those efforts, and that’s helping Sir Tim Berners-Lee fix the World Wide Web. 

What if I told you how we see the web today is not how it was intended? Yes, you read that correctly, and spoiler alert, it’s not! What if I also told you the creator of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, envisioned it to be a place for everyone from individuals to prominent enterprises to have an equal voice? Well, surprise, he did! And before I go on, and this gets heavy, I want to make a statement. The web might not be where we want it, but there are great qualities about it, from creating support chats for minority groups to being a platform to call out injustice on an international scale. 

Nonetheless, change must happen. For decades large corporations have been controlling your data, and it fuels their digital empire. In theory, the data they possess is the digital you. The transactions, conversations, and movements you make on the web are being tracked and gathered to make a digital version of you. All the data collected is typically sold off from large corporations to third parties to create an algorithmic idea of who you are. Instead of going to the source, that being you, these large companies thought they should go to a computer to create you. And the problem is the executives running these companies are mainly from centralized, typically privileged, and non-diverse backgrounds. Their privilege in this data space is similar to our societal framework, and it’s broken. And for years, this was the norm. Until recently, we started seeing the truth. These large corporations collected our data and took it too far from data manipulation, facial recognition leading to false arrests, digital/social polarization, and search engines tracking you even in your incognito windows. All of this was creating a digital space that was no longer for everyone. The problem, like many, was beginning to be noticeable. Luckily, conversations were sparked about making a change, stopping this norm, and decentralizing the web a little over three years ago. Starting this movement meant bringing the voice back to all people, not the large corporations. Berners-Lee decided to revision the web back to his true intentions by creating Solid. 

Solid is an open-source standard that is accessible or editable by anyone on the existing web. Meaning anyone can start building or be a part of the community without limitations, money, or status. Many people making decisions and benefiting from the web now come from centralized, mainly non-diverse corporations and similar backgrounds. Most of these individuals don’t necessarily think about or know how to have your best interests or needs in mind. So to have your voice heard would be vital. It’s also interoperable, meaning that all clients will be compatible with all servers. You won’t have to worry about millions of logins or changing the specs for your application to work with each server. Which I know can be nice. And lastly, and the most important note of all, is it gives us control of our data. We can allow access to our data or take it back at any time. Regaining control goes back to what we mentioned before about creating your identity instead of an AI. Humans are very complex and have many sides. Not every company, group, or person needs to see every side of you. That should be up to you to discover, control, and form. This is also good news to developers who get the chance to build an application without worrying about the back end. Solid gives us the opportunity to develop the tools and services we need to live harmoniously. 

For the last three years, Solid’s been in the incubation stage (constant work on the framework and specifications). The foundation for sound applications and a positive user experience is almost complete. Meaning right now is the time for developers, beta testers for various applications, or those interested in learning more about the community. If you are interested in building a web application, you should check out the Solid documentation. It will help to check out the Solid website and sign up now to create your pod. There are also applications you can try; Inrupt has a Solid app listing you can check out. And lastly, to join the community, you can check out the Solid forum, join us for Solid World, or read the This Month in Solid newsletter. Solid is an ecosystem, and a one-stop-shop where everyone has a place to speak, be acknowledged, and work asynchronously. 

With a decentralized web, everyone has a voice and gets value out of control over their data. We no longer have to watch large corporations run the web. We can reclaim it for ourselves. This is ours. Why are we letting a company or AI create our world!? The more we begin to realize this, our digital world is bound to change. It’s better to be proactive than reactive. We all can make an effort for inclusivity for people in the digital and physical world. It can no longer be acceptable to sit idly by and not assist in the betterment of others. So many people are forced into boxes, stripped away from creating an identity for themselves. It’s time to open the doors to new opportunities for all of us, As a collective. Today is the day you start your journey on the new take of the web. On Solid.