Steem remains a decentralized chain, but Steemit and other GUI domain-based providers of content are not.

I've seen the new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. They look standard, but...

Well it seems we've now hit 5pm.... Which is symbolic for being the end of the old business day for the steem blockchain this week.

Since each steemit user must agree to new terms of service and a privacy policy means that steemit users are now entering a totally new business day.

The stage is set, for things to come. It might look the same around here, just a couple of checkboxes to click, and you're done. As we've seen from other places, like twitter, reddit, facebook, and even Google, once you agree... you are acquiescing in advance, your right to disagree at a later date.

Once you agree to something, you transfer some of your rights to the contract to be in charge of who has authority (or lack of authority) moving forward.

• What did you gain? What did you lose? That's not easily determined right away, is it?

In a decentralized environment you still get centralized sources. We know that...

Bitcoin is decentralized, but many exchanges are centralized.

...the problem we see, is that centralized sources have centralized agendas, and centralized paths to profitability. As long as the majority still use centralized sources... that works well for the provider of service.

...What you will see changing in the next couple of years (and even now), is more decentralized methods to access cryptocurrency based applications. That is the only true way cryptocurrency can remain decentralized. :)

I, am currently exploring different decentralized ways to get my content onto the steem blockchain, to make all of my transactions dependent on myself. This way I do not need to depend on any particular centralized authority in order to communicate with the steem blockchain.

I'm at an advantage though. I have the technical expertise to pull it off... but it's going to eat a lot more time for me to configure, upgrade, and maintain my own onramp on the steem blockchain.

But I'm determined to do it. :)

...it might actually be fun to do it too.

For the rest of you... if you have the inclination to improve your technical skills, now is the time to read, learn, take courses, or do what you have to do now... The blockchain and decentralized web is here to stay... but only if we stop relying on others to be the providers of our internet and crypto experiences.

Think about what I've said for a moment..

...but only if you stop relying on others to be the providers of our internet and crypto experiences.

Now ask yourself:

Q: If STEEM the blockchain has many ways ON and OFF that chain, and they don't go through only 3 or 4 central providers... All of a sudden stopping or regulating one provider doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

A: No it doesn't. More alternative ways onto steem (instead of steemit) is good for steemit too! It paints less of a target on them or their website, when there are multiple targets floating around all over the place.

Choose your pathways in/out of the steem blockchain yourself. Just think heavily about which one you have chosen and how long you can still be happy with your choice. :)

I give my best wishes to Steemit.

I'll still be here. Just differently :)

---

Further reading on this topic can be found on a post I made 8 months ago:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@intelliguy/steem-is-still-very-fragile-right-now-do-not-be-complacent-warning-to-everyone-about-outages

(That one was about outages. But it could be about anything, including new policies)