Rethinking Collect as the Like button

Onchain is the new internet - a new way to own what we create, get rewarded for what we share, and collect what we like. We are shaping our digital identity based on our transactions and collections, even if this identity is spread across multiple wallets and apps. But do we need to put everything onchain, or are we overdoing it?

What began as exclusive jpegs that would give you some status within our ecosystem has evolved into any digital content having its onchain version. Every time we see a new design or screenshot essay, the first reply on a cast is, "Where's the mint button?" We've fostered a culture of collecting onchain media, a culture that wants to show off that we were there on day one, that we discovered artists before they got famous, that we liked a product in its early days, or that we support a community or something that resonates with us.

We collect digital content to have a copy of something significant - attending a concert, joining an event, supporting an artist, or being part of a community. But collecting isn't for everyone, and one big problems is its cost. Why collect a picture of friends if it requires a payment? I'm glad you went on vacation, but that doesn't need to be displayed in my gallery.

Take podcasts, for example. If you want to create your own "podcast gallery," showcasing your minted podcasts instead of played episodes on Spotify makes sense. It offers social knowledge you can share. However, collecting those is not cheap.

Free mints aren't truly free; there's always a fee, typically around $3. Even if consumer apps don't use Zora as a default option, each mint click has a fee. I know those are mints with rewards where creators and curators benefit, but if you, as a fan, purely collect content because you liked it, it's a lot of money. Just do the math if you collect more than 100 onchain media contents, most of which won't provide any return or access to a community.

Not everything on social media needs to be onchain. While we have fun in our web3 bubble, and we spend our ETH like casino chips, normies don't see it the same way. Would you pay the fees with your credit card every time you want to collect something? That would make you think twice before clicking on the mint button.

Collecting should be an addition for the user, one focused on quality, one focused on shaping our onchain profiles.

Even if paying fees is not a barrier and we achieve seamless onboarding, where users unknowingly create wallets and use apps without needing funds, there must be a distinction between onchain and offchain content.

I might like a lot of content, but only collect pieces that define my interests and onchain identity. Just as we selectively showcase a few NFTs in a gallery we should treat the content we collect. Sponsoring fees is a temporary solution; even if a consumer platform decides to sponsor all fees for mass adoption, it would lead to chaotic and expensive profiles. The focus should be on curating content that truly reflects our interests.

What differentiates a collect from a like is that it represents a deeper engagement with the content, shifting from passive consumption to active curation and investment.

Not everything we like should be minted. The Collect button should be reserved for culturally significant pieces that reflect personal interests and onchain identity. While there are significant benefits for creators to put their content onchain, fans will resonate with only a portion of it.

I don't think we will replace the Like button; instead, we'll add a Collect button to generate immutable digital copies of what we truly like and value - pieces that shape our internet culture and that we want to own.