Corporate whales?
Hi,
As with most of you, I have been following the back and forth discussion on steemit (although I have found I have more content to offer in @photography and @steemitphotochallenge ) and with the discussion focussing on the benevolence and generosity of whales (as individuals), I was wondering what is the view on the potential of corporate whales coming onto the scene with their ability to buy steem power and promote a channel for product, influence or to simply see steemit as another social channel? Would this take away from the individual nature of steem or should we embrace it as a means of promoting steem and grow its value?
I personally think that as young as this platform is that just like celebrities, if we see AT&T or Nestle sign up tomorrow it would hurt the community more than it would help.
I think that their sole focus would be their product and their followers. You'd also have followers signing up by the hundreds to get rewarded for just commenting or criticizing on their brands. I think the percentage that would have an interest in Steemit and Steem outside of free money would be small compared to the headache it would cause.
I don't see where these corporations would have an interest in developing the community by voting on posts such as yours here: https://steemit.com/photography/@adamt/a-lighthouse-in-baddeck-nova-scotia-on-the-cabot-trail
What would be the cost/benefit ratio when they don't even know if their product or service is available to you?
What would be the impact to someone who's original content is buried under posts promoting their services and products? Or their customers posting product reviews and complaints hoping to get noticed?
Thanks @patrice - that's what I love about this place, lots of counterbalanced views that make you think! And you make a great point re: posts getting buried, which I think is one of the challenges of steemit in that recency of post rules over posts that fade into the background of time. Thanks again.
One final thought is that if there is a way to monetise the nature of steemit for a corporate, I am sure that some bright MBA student is pondering the problem right now!