Introduction
Project Name: TwikkL
Website: twikkl.xyz
Name of the organization or individual submitting the proposal: Jeremiah Abang (Founder and Team Lead)
Description of your project, who benefits, and how the project will serve the Foundation’s mission of user-owned data:
•Purpose.
Traditional video sharing platforms are controlled by a central authority, which controls the storage, management, and distribution of videos. Users upload their videos to a central server, and other users can access and interact with the videos through the platform’s interface. The company that operates the central server is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and setting the rules for the community. Regrettably centralized video sharing platforms tend to have strict censorship rules, which limits the freedom of expression for users. Additionally, creators of content often receive little to no compensation for their work.
We’ve seen a couple of their decentralized counterparts with attempts at reward systems and decentralization on distributed networks based on Blockchain technology. Though decentralized video streaming applications aim at solving the problems faced with their traditional counterparts, they also have been greeted with some downsides like slow onboarding process and lack of concrete reward structure. Web3 applications rely on decentralized infrastructure, which can make the onboarding process for new users confusing and complex. Users need to have an understanding of blockchain concepts such as private keys, public addresses, and gas fees. They may also need to set up a digital wallet and acquire cryptocurrency or NFT before using the application. These steps can be overwhelming for new users and may prevent them from fully engaging with the application. Additionally, lack of user-friendly interfaces and inability to maintain reward structures can also be a problem, lacking a revenue generation model to constantly provide liquidity for tokens issued to users as reward will cause the value of content monetization to drop leading to users being demotivated.
Set to change the narrative and experience with decentralized video sharing platforms, TwikkL is a decentralized video sharing platform that utilizes blockchain technology and Sia storage network to provide a censorship-free and transparent environment for users to share and stream videos. By using a blockchain network, TwikkL ensures that the platform remains decentralized and the content is stored on a decentralized storage network, making it more difficult to remove or censor content. Using Sia Network, TwikkL provides a decentralized and secure alternative to traditional cloud storage providers by allowing users to store their data across a distributed network of nodes, rather than relying on a single centralized provider. Additionally, TwikkL utilizes its sustainable revenue generation models to provide a fair reward structure for content creators and users, allowing them to monetize their content and be fairly compensated for their contributions to the platform. TwikkL’s plan on web3 integration to Sia will be assisted by Lumeweb and S5. Also utilizing the Lens protocol API for its Social network graph and for low/efficient gas cost TwikkL is built on the Polygon Network and will see to advance to other chains when necessary.
Handling Abuse/Copyright Violations
When using TwikkL, it’s crucial to ensure that any copyrighted material is handled responsibly to avoid infringement issues. To prevent such complications, make certain that the content you use is either part of the public domain or has been made publicly available under a suitable open license.
It is important to note that by default, TwikkL restricts certain types of NSFW content, including adult nudity and explicit material. However, users have the option to adjust their media settings according to their preferences. By adhering to these guidelines, you can enjoy a seamless experience on TwikkL while respecting the rights of content creators.
We’ve provided details on how TwikkL plans on handling NSFW content and copyright violations without giving up its decentralized and Censorship resistant nature.
Smart contracts will be used to create an automated system for handling content takedown requests. Here’s a detailed explanation of how this process can work:
Flagging Content: When a user flags a piece of content as potentially violating the platform’s guidelines (e.g., copyright infringement or abusive content), this action triggers a smart contract. The flagged content is registered, along with details such as the content ID, the user who flagged it, and a timestamp.
Voting System: The smart contract then initiates a voting period during which designated community witnesses (who have voting power proportional to their token holdings) can vote on whether the flagged content should be removed. Each vote is recorded on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and immutability.
TwikkL implements a combination of randomness and anonymity in the selection process to maintain decentralization while selecting witnesses for the voting system. Other requirements that aid the voting system are as follows:
•Token-based Participation: This requires users to hold and stake a certain amount of TwikkL’s governance tokens (Jiggy) to again be eligible for participating as a witness in the voting process. This ensures that only users with a vested interest in the platform’s success can participate in content moderation decisions.
•Random Selection: When a content takedown request is initiated, the smart contract randomly selects a predefined number of eligible token holders from the pool of eligible users to serve as temporary witnesses for that specific request, making the process unbiased and unpredictable.
•Anonymity: To protect the identity of the witness and prevent potential collusion, the smart contract utilises cryptographic techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs. These techniques allow the witnesses to cast their votes without revealing their identities, ensuring anonymity in the voting process.
•Rotation of Witnesses: The pool of eligible token holders is constantly changing due to new users joining, existing users leaving, or fluctuations in token holdings. By randomly selecting a new set of witnesses for each content takedown request, the platform ensures that voting power is distributed across the user base and not concentrated in the hands of a few individuals.
•Threshold for Removal: A predetermined threshold for content removal is then set in the smart contract. For example, if a majority (e.g., 51%) of the moderators vote to remove the content, the smart contract will consider the content as violating the platform’s guidelines.
•Automated Removal: If the threshold for removal is met, the smart contract automatically updates the content’s status on the platform, making it inaccessible to users. The content is not deleted from the decentralized storage network but is made unavailable for streaming or viewing through the platform’s interface.
•Notification and Appeals: The content creator is notified of the removal decision, and they have the option to appeal the decision.
Synopsis of TwikkL’s Features
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•Video groups: TwikkL allows users to create and manage their own video groups or communities, which could be focused on specific topics, interests, or communities. This provides users with a more personalized and tailored video sharing experience.
•Decentralized data storage: TwikkL aims at the integration of Sia for a secure, decentralized, and blockchain-based architecture to store and access videos without relying on centralized servers.
•Content monetization: TwikkL utilizes advertising and NFTs for content monetization. Creators can earn rewards, which are stored in an inbuilt wallet on the platform.
•Content takedown system: TwikkL implements a smart contract-based content takedown request system using EIP-2535 Diamond Standard to tackle content abuse and copyright issues, empowering users to flag and vote on inappropriate content.
•Witnesses: On TwikkL, witnesses play a crucial role in maintaining the platform’s content quality and community guidelines. They are responsible for reviewing flagged content, enforcing rules and guidelines, and taking appropriate actions against users who violate these standards. Witnesses also help foster a positive and inclusive community by addressing concerns, mediating conflicts, and promoting healthy discussions among users. Their efforts contribute significantly to maintaining a safe and engaging environment for everyone on the platform.
•Governance proposals: TwikkL allows users to submit and vote on governance proposals, related to changes or improvements to the platform.
•Smart contracts: TwikkL incorporates Solidity smart contracts into its platform, facilitating transactions, interactions, and access controls, as well as automating content takedown processes.
•Governance tokens: TwikkL issues governance tokens to users, giving them the ability to participate in governance decisions or vote on issues related to the platform, promoting user-owned data and decentralization.
•Data privacy: By leveraging decentralized storage and blockchain technology, TwikkL aims to protect user data and privacy. Users have control over their data, and since it is not held by a single central entity, the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access is minimized.
TwikkL emphasizes the importance of user data ownership by providing a platform where users have complete control over their content. Through decentralized storage using Sia and community-driven moderation via smart contracts, TwikkL ensures that users can securely store, manage, and share their videos without compromising their ownership rights.
Grant Specifics
Amount of money requested and justification with a reasonable breakdown of expenses:
Budget
We have revised our budget breakdown to provide more details as requested by the committee:
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$18,000 to be the salary of Jeremiah Abang (Team Lead and Product Manager)
$17,000 for development and technical expenses>>
*“-Mobile App Development for IOS, UI/UX design improvement and Purchase of a MacBook: $7000
-Smart contract development: $5000 Research and development of smart contracts for content takedown requests Implementation of EIP-2535 Diamond Standard and deployment of smart contracts
-Establish the foundation for backend and blockchain functionalities, incorporating Sia integration: $5000”*
•$5,000 for marketing, publicity and partnerships expenses during the product testing phase, with the remaining $5,000 reserved for marketing efforts post-launch.
$13,000 for hiring, audits, and testing expenses, broken down as follows:
*-$5,000 for hiring additional developers and support staff as needed.
-$5,000 for security audits and code reviews to ensure the platform's safety.
-$3,000 for testing and quality assurance processes, including hiring testers and conducting user testing sessions.*
In addition, we will make strategic partnerships with trending artists and content creators to onboard their fanbase on the Platform, driving mass adoption.
Timeline with measurable milestones and goals:
Adjusted Timeline
•UI/UX design prototype: Completed (Oct 2022 - Jan 2023)
-Project file setup, dependencies, and screen design
•Mobile app development with React Native and Smart contracts implementation: In progress (Jan 2023 - Jul 2023)
-Implementing the design with its functionality and linking to the backend.
•Smart Contract Development, CDN setup and Sia integration: (May 2023 - Sep 2023)
-Account for potential delays and challenges in integrating Sia
Allow time for testing, troubleshooting and optimization
•First Product test: (Aug 2023 - Nov 2023)
-Testing the application with a limited group of users
Gathering feedback and making necessary adjustments
•Public launch and marketing campaign: (Dec 2023 - Jan 2024)
-Launching the application to the public
Initiating marketing campaigns to attract users and creators
•Post-launch improvements and feature updates: (Jan 2024 - Ongoing)
-Continuous development and improvement based on user feedback
Introducing new features and updates to enhance the user experience
Potential risks that will affect the outcome of the project:
Risk
We appreciate the feedback on our risk assessment and have provided a more comprehensive list of potential risks and possible mitigations:
-Risk of rapid user growth
-Network issues affecting the performance and scalability of the platform.
-Dependencies on third-party tools and services, which could affect the development and operation of the platform.
-Security vulnerabilities and potential exploits within the platform or underlying technology.
-Legal and regulatory compliance, including data privacy and content regulations.
-Abuse and handling of illegal content.
-Competitors offering similar solutions.
Mitigations
•To check the risk of rapid user growth, TwikkL will develop scalable infrastructure, monitor performance, conduct load testing, implement gradual onboarding, utilize CDNs, and optimize code and algorithms.
•We’ll implement a robust infrastructure with redundancy and load-balancing mechanisms (Decentralised Storage, CDN etc…) to ensure the platform remains stable and responsive. Proactively monitor the platform for performance issues and address them promptly.
•Choose reliable and well-established third-party tools and services for essential components of the platform. Stay up-to-date with the development and updates of these tools and services, and have contingency plans in place to handle potential disruptions.
•Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments, and patch any identified issues in a timely manner.
•Stay informed of relevant laws and regulations, particularly those related to data privacy, content, and DMCA. Ensure that the platform’s policies and procedures are in compliance with applicable laws and be prepared to adapt to any changes in the legal landscape. We’ll work with legal experts to help navigate this complex area.
•Implement the content moderation model detailed earlier, which includes community moderation, content takedown requests, a decentralized moderation team, transparent guidelines, an appeals process, and education and awareness initiatives.
•We’re focused on providing unique features and a better user experience that differentiates TwikkL from its competitors. Regularly gather user feedback and continuously improve the platform based on their needs and preferences.
Development Information
Will all of your project’s code be open-source?
Yes, our project is committed to transparency and the open-source ethos. All of the code developed specifically for TwikkL, including the backend, frontend, and smart contract components, will be open-source. This approach allows us to foster a collaborative development environment, enabling community contributions and ensuring that our platform remains accessible to the public at GitHub - JiggyDevs/twikkl-app: Decentralized video sharing app with social services and more
Information about your team that will provide confidence in your ability to complete the project:
It is important to know that our Team works remotely across different time zones,
Jeremiah Abang (Founder and Team Lead) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-abang-2116a1230
Emma Glory Praise (Blockchain/Smart contract Developer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaglorypraise
Firas REGAIEG (Software/Mobile App Developer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/firas-rg
Victor Okon (Mobile App Developer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicksoson
UbongAbasi Ndak (Product designer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ubongabasi-ndak-0b009a1b5
We are confident that our team’s combined skills, expertise, and passion for user-owned data and decentralized technology will drive the success of TwikkL and its integration with the Sia ecosystem.
Do you agree to submit monthly progress reports?
The progress of the project will be communicated accordingly to the community. We look forward to actualizing this unique product whilst contributing to the adoption and growth of the Sia Network.