HOSN-app/thesis/content/03-related-work/peepeth.tex

Bevan Barton created Peepeth and launched the platform in March 2018. Peepeth\footnote{https://peepeth.com/welcome} is a microblogging platform that is very similar to Twitter in functionality and design. There are also other parallels to Twitter: Instead of a blue bird in the logo, Peepeth uses a penguin and instead of \textit{tweeting} users \textit{peep}. The maximum post length is limited to 280 characters, which has no technical cause but was taken over from Twitter. The main difference to Twitter is the decentralization.

From Peepeth's point of view, social media is broken. The major problem is, that \ac{OSN} service providers control the online identities of users, sell their data, and violate their privacy. The news feeds are manipulated to drive the user to a higher level of interaction at any price. Besides, the platforms are teeming with trolls, bullying and flame wars. Barton wants to counter these grievances. Therefore there is no advertising on Peepeth and no use of the user data for any purpose. 

The website Peepeth.com is the front end of a \ac{dApp}, which uses the Eteherum blockchain and \ac{IPFS}. This front end can theoretically be exchanged arbitrarily, and Peepeth's data can be read and written because of the open blockchain protocol. No Ethereum test network is used, but the main network. The execution of transactions on the Ethereum blockchain is associated with costs. Peepeth pays the fee for its users. The necessary capital was collected via a crowdfunding campaign. However, when accounts distribute spam, Peepeth no longer carries the price for writing to the blockchain. The resulting charge should make spamming unattractive and reduce it to a minimum. Although Peepeth covers the costs, the user has to sign the transactions. Therefore, Peepeth requires a \ac{dApp} browser (e.g., Opera) or a browser that has been extended by a wallet (e.g., using MetaMask browser extension). \cite{peepeth2018free,peepeth2018free2,peepeth2018free3}

In order to keep transaction fees low, the actions executed on Peepeth are collected on the server hosting the front end and written to the blockchain in batches every hour. Several actions are bundled in one file and transaction. The actual contents are written as \ac{JSON} file to \ac{IPFS} and only the reference hash is stored on the blockchain. \cite{peepeth2018free2}

While the smart contracts are open source, the front end is closed source. So it is impossible to understand what is happening on the server hosting the front end Peepeth.com. Image files are not only stored in \ac{IPFS} but also mirrored at \acf{AWS} to provide a better user experience. The client does not communicate directly with \ac{IPFS}, but the server behind the front end communicates with the two back end technologies \ac{IPFS} and Ethereum blockchain, as shown in Figure \ref{fig:peepeth-architecture}.

\begin{figure}[h!]
	\centering
	\includegraphics[width=1.0\textwidth]{peepeth-architecture}
	\caption{System architecture of Peepeth. The front end website communicates with a back end server and loads images from \ac{AWS}. The back end is connected to the Ethereum blockchain and \ac{IPFS}.}
	\label{fig:peepeth-architecture}
\end{figure}

The data written to the Ethereum blockchain cannot be deleted or modified. For Barton, this immutability is an advantage since everyone is forced to be aware of his actions and the self-confidence for his actions is sharpened \cite{peepethXXXXabout}. Furthermore, this fact of immutability is the main argument for freedom of expression and against censorship. However, not all messages are presented in the Peepeth front end. If they violate Peepeth's terms of use, a filter will sort them out. Peepeth calls this procedure \enquote{moderation} and argues that this is by no means to be understood as censorship, but much more \enquote{on cultivating mindful engagement and positive contribution} \cite{peepethXXXXmoderation}.

In addition to writing short messages, it is possible to like posts. However, there is only one like per day available, a so-called \textit{Ensō}. \enquote{Ensō (Japanese for \enquote{circle}) is a circle that is hand-drawn in one uninhibited brushstroke. It represents creativity, freedom of expression, and unity} \cite{peepethXXXXabout}. The resulting rarity should express the particular appreciation of a contribution. Furthermore, good content from other users can be rewarded with a tip. 10\,\% of the tip are taken to finance Peepeth. \cite{peepethXXXXabout}

On 29$ ^{th} $ January 2019, Peepeth had 4\,055 users who posted a total of 66\,262 Peeps \cite{peepehtXXXXstats}. To get access, potential users have to apply first and receive a sign-up link by email to join the platform after some time. Upon the invitation of an active user, new users can join directly without waiting time. Users can verify themselves with their existing Github and Twitter accounts. In the future, it will be possible to use further platforms for the verification of an account. To verify an account, the user must post a \enquote{special message}, which also contains his Ethereum address. The link to this post must then be handed over to a smart contract, which confirms the ownership of the account.

The next milestone of Peepeth is to increase the user experience as it was communicated in the crowdfunding campaign. The first milestone has already been reached, which was the coverage of the users' fees for writing to the blockchain. Therefore, the complexity was massively decreased since no user has to buy \ac{ETH} first. The next steps are the use without special software requirements (renouncement of particular browsers or MetaMask) and the development of an iOS app. However, only 177 bakers donated 140.56 \ac{ETH} from the required 1\,000 \ac{ETH}. It is unclear to what extent the desired goals will now be achieved. \cite{peepethXXXXcrowdfunding}