How sincere are you on Steemit?

The internet is not safe. The rise in cybercrimes, especially cyberbullying and internet fraud has caused many netizens to become very conscious about what they share online, who they interact with and how they interpret content they consume. You and I are no exception.

For this contest, permit me to share my fears and concerns with you while answering these questions.

1 ) Were you sincere with Steemit from the moment you made your first achievement or were you sincere as you felt more secure within the platform?

Before I got to know about Steemit, I had always believed that there was no safe zone on the internet any more. This paranoia grew even larger when I read about kidnap cases and unethical hacks; how people were hijacked from their homes because they shared their locations with total strangers on the internet.

It was so hard to trust people because not everyone discloses their true identity which could be for different reasons such as security, state policies, or even their insecurities, etc. I watched people disguise themselves, even to the extent of lying about their social status just to feel accepted.

So when I joined Steemit in 2021, I threw caution to the wind. My rule of thumb was to “Stay authentic”. I shared only the things I was comfortable with. Because it's better to keep information at a minimum than share a lie. I have been doing this since then. See my achievement one as a proof.

2 ) Do you enjoy capturing photography for steemit or do you capture photographs for the sake of capturing?

My friends ask me, “Why don't you like taking pictures?” And my answer has always been, I'm usually so busy that I forget what pictures are.

Don't know about others but I enjoy taking pictures only when I feel so relaxed and less occupied. I tried breaking this habit for Steemit but the best I have done so far is sharing selfies because even my phone's rear camera “no dey gree”. Maybe when I get a better phone that affords me the comfort of clicking pictures wherever and whenever I wish, this habit will change. But I'm very uncertain.

3 ) Do you visit other users' posts to learn more about them?

The secret to succeeding on Steemit is through learning from the mistakes and successes of others. When I joined the platform, I was curious to know what worked and the content that didn't. I conducted my competitor's audit to spot trends and flops. This helped me get acquitted with great writers like @patjewell, @pandora2010, etc. who inspire me to get better every day.

4 ) Do you think that time is wasted on Steemit? Why?

Waste of time? Absolutely no! I have never seen Steemit this way. Steemit is like a school. If you are not learning about people's cultures and lifestyles, then you are improving your writing skills.

My time here has helped me improve my writing skills. I remember landing a well-paying job last year after telling my employer that I write on Steemit.

I do not see Steemit as a waste of time. If not for anything, it helped me build my portfolio.

5 ) Do you think that Steemit deserves to have confidence in its content?

I believe so. Steemit community has articulate moderators who suggest thought-provoking contest topics like the one I'm participating in now.

The curators also try to support quality content to an extent. Truth is, Steemit has great writers. It's only a matter of time before our content starts ranking high on Google. But that's another topic on its own.

In summary, I gained more confidence in the platform after a couple of months. But I'm grateful that I started on a good foot—sincerity. There's a satisfaction one gets when they know that they are true to themselves. And I feel this all the time I spend time on this platform.

_{Written by @ukpono on 31 January 2024}

Inviting
@yhudy, @lirvic and @bela90