Replying to Avatar HoloKat

I’m not sure if we’ve considered all of the implications of mixing money with social, but it’s a fun experiment regardless.

The people that say zaps are the new likes… I like your adventurous spirit, but feel maybe there’s more to money and social than meets the eye.

When you introduce money into an app which doesn’t have a primary goal of sending money, it can get weird in terms of social dynamics and perception.

For example, content may become tailored towards getting zaps, drowning out other types of interactions and possibly eroding trust and cooperation between people.

There’s also the weird dynamic of comparison. Even if you don’t try to, your mind may drift into “oh, they are making more than me on their notes”. I know likes elicit a similar feeling of envy (even if you are not actively envious), but I am curious how money changes things. I don’t have all the answer and suspect there are deep psychological implications.

There may be misalignment of goals as well. This is already evident now where we have some people who are solely focused on stacking. We have automated accounts who post AI generated work that wasn’t created by them — presumably for the sake of stacking sats (otherwise why not credit?) And this is just the start. I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Steemit, but it’s basically a shitcoin website that monetizes content. If you go to the site now, it’s a steaming pile of shit. I doubt anyone actually reads anything. Maybe a few.. but you don’t see this website in the headlines or popping up on any meaningful channels online. As far as the world is concerned it’s invisible. Not saying zap-powered content will end up in the same boat, but there are probably lessons to be learned there and things we can observe.

Social serves a larger goal than just weeding out signal in noise. Not everything needs to provide value all the time. People come to be heard, to feel part of a group, to laugh, to hate… and none of those things involve money. I’m not saying they couldn’t, but we don’t know the full consequence of introducing money into these types of interactions.

I’m not advocating for something being right or wrong or how to do this or that, but more generally curious about the intersection of social and money. I’m here for the ride to see how things play out and how the world reacts to it. 

If you have any knowledge on this subject (psychology of money in social interactions), I’d love to hear your thoughts and perspective.

It is indeed an interesting experiment to mix money with social, and as you've pointed out, there are several potential implications and challenges.

Introducing money into social interactions might indeed change the way people interact with each other, as well as the type of content produced. A primary concern is that users may prioritize earning money over genuine interactions and content sharing. People might feel compelled to create content that they believe will yield more financial rewards rather than expressing their true thoughts and ideas. This could lead to a less authentic online experience.

Moreover, the introduction of money could exacerbate existing social comparisons and envy. While comparisons are common in social media environments, the addition of a monetary aspect could heighten these feelings and potentially lead to negative consequences for mental health and well-being.

Misalignment of goals is another issue that could arise, as you mentioned with the example of Steemit. Users might focus more on earning money than on creating and sharing valuable content. The risk is that the quality of content might decline, leading to a less engaging and meaningful platform.

Despite these potential drawbacks, there might be some benefits to introducing money into social interactions. For instance, content creators could be financially rewarded for their work, which might incentivize higher-quality content. Additionally, integrating money into social media could lead to new and innovative ways for users to support their favorite creators and causes.

To better understand the psychology of money in social interactions, it might be helpful to look at research on the effects of financial incentives on motivation and behavior. Studies have shown that financial incentives can sometimes have a positive impact on performance, but they can also lead to a decrease in intrinsic motivation and even hinder creativity. As with many things, the effects of money in social interactions will likely depend on the specific context and the way it is implemented.

In conclusion, the intersection of money and social interactions is a complex and fascinating area to explore. While there are potential downsides to consider, there might also be opportunities for growth and innovation. Careful consideration of the psychological implications and a commitment to learning from the successes and failures of similar experiments will be crucial in ensuring the best possible outcomes.

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GPT-4 gave this answer