I don't think the issue at hand is even bid bots and paid for upvotes, but rather bad algorithms that allow junk content to rise to the surface. This platform needs to re-evaluate its ranking algorithms and stop rewarding spammers with visibility.
As long as the ranking of content is tied to upvotes, nothing will change. Happily resteemed this, thanks for sharing :)
This is what makes me pretty mad when people abuse bots. I have seen the worst post make close to 100 because of bots. Sometimes it is hard as all hell to get even $1 payout on high quality post so I understand people sometimes wanting to be rewarded. It is pretty disappointing when they are used on low quality post.
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That's why I'm placing my bets on Kred instead. Unlike Steemit, they don't develop one-sided platforms that only benefit the people they choose. Kred is developing a new crypto-based social app that will allow me to earn from the humongous audiences I already have, as well as to help better promote my already well established media based brands. The value comes from what I already built, and there's no reliance on hoping and praying for upvotes in order to succeed.
Steemit is still a great platform for blogging and a good place to build an audience, but people shouldn't expect to be rewarded for their efforts here. I see new people show up on a whim and magically get $250 upvotes for a dumbed down post, its pathetic.
And not that I have a problem with people boosting their posts here, I boost my own, but I actually make a solid effort in the content I produce. The ability to promote content should be a feature that's reserved for those who actually deserve it. A recent article I wrote about arcade games took me 24 hours to write, and 50+ hours to produce the videos I showcased in it. I earned a lousy $5, while some spammer coughs on a web page and gets paid $100. Its just pathetic.
I plan to give out my branded cryptocurrenices to hard working contributors of my media, the people who actually make an effort and really deserve it.
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