https://Steemit.com is a social network that looks and functions like Reddit and even Facebook, but with one HUGE difference:

Content creators (news, stories, photographs, tutorials, etc.) are PAID when their work gets upvoted!

People who upvote content are rewarded for helping to curate the best content available on the site. Commenters who add to the discussions are paid too!

How? The Steemit platform is built on top of a new kind of digital currency called Steem. Think Bitcoin, which is another kind of digital currency that has been around for a while. "Cryptocurrency" or "Blockchain-based tech" are more accurate labels. Every day, new units of "Steem" are created by the network and distributed to its users, who can exchange these cryptocurrency units for real money. And it's completely free to get started! Although, you need to have at least a dollar's worth of Steem in order to upvote people. No worries, when you "use" that "steem power", you don't lose it. You get to "use" your steem power for a few upvotes every day and then, within a certain number of hours, your pool of steem power regenerates back to 100% so you can upvote again the next day.

I really enjoy being able to be able to give free money to my friends and articles I like!

Steem is similar to other cryptocurrencies. For example, Steem can be traded, bought, and sold on the open market just like all of the other cryptos. See https://coinmarketcap.com/ for a list of the most popular ones. Steem has been fluctuating for some time around $1 per share.

Why is Steem a good investment?

• With Steemit pioneering the way toward a decentralized and CENSORSHIP-FREE social media platform, during this time of amped up censorship in competing platforms, it seems like a high probability that Steemit.com will continue to grow.
• There is an API and a huge number of developers creating tools to make use of Steemit.com more efficient, easy to use, etc. DTube (censorship-free replacement for YouTube) is a great example.
• The more Steem Power you have, the more you can influence the posts you like most by upvoting.

How do I get Steem Power?

You buy Steem using Bitcoin and then convert the Steem to Steem Power. It's easier than it sounds.
(1) Create a Steemit account.
(2) Buy some Bitcoin.
(3) In Steemit click on your photo on the top right and choose "Wallet". On the right you will see a button "BUY STEEM OR STEEM POWER". Click it. Pretty easy process from there.
Here's a potentially helpful article that zooms in some on the "buy Bitcoin" part of the process: https://steemit.com/steem/@kakon/system-of-buying-steem. Please keep in mind that you can use other sources than coinbase.com, who reports to the IRS. One source I recommend is https://localbitcoins.com.
(4) It will probably take a few minutes for the trade to be done and your Steem to show up in your wallet on Steemit.com. Be patient.
(5) Once your Steem has arrived in your wallet on Steemit.com, you will need to convert it to Steem Power. You'll see the button in your wallet.

Into the tech a bit: Mining

With other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the actual currency units that are created each day are distributed to the people who run a special bitcoin software program on their computers that perform a process called Bitcoin Mining. The most important thing to know about mining is: This is the work that allows the super secure transactions cryptocurrencies are known for to occur. The amount of computing power you have dictates how much you can contribute to that work, and thus, the rewards you get as a miner.

Steemit allows for currency mining as well, but it’s not the only way to earn money. Every day, new Steem are created by the network and distributed to the people who engage with the site. The more you engage, the more you get.

Imagine using the "steem power" you accumulate by being able to upvote articles you like, which causes two things; (1) their article gets pushed higher up in the feed; and (2) the author gets money!

Try it out. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain

Come on in! It's still a young network, so the interface is not as pretty as Facebook. But the earlier you get in, the more you can share in literal ownership of the network, as well as the other gains you get by being an early adopter. I've been on Steemit.com for over a year now and have seen it grow and improve quite a bit in that time.

Oh and you can find me at https://steemit.com/@scottermonkey

And if you create an account, please tell me who you are. If you write about things I'm interested in, I'll want to follow you. If you write about Voluntaryism, nonviolent communication, unschooling, or peaceful parenting, I'll most likely want to add you to one of the auto-upvoters I manage so your posts get recognition.