TikTok-Alternative-Offers-Fairer-Pay-To-Creators
New Social App ‘Own’ Lets Anyone Earn From Content
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The decentralized social media platform Own has entered public beta testing, just before TikTok must divest from the United States market.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Own is a decentralized social media app using blockchain-based token rewards.
- $OWN tokens are rewarded based on content engagement.
- Creators keep up to 95% of their earnings on the platform.
The platform promises that this platform can generate money through blockchain tokens, regardless of their location or number of followers, as first reported by TechCrunch (TC).
Developed by Amir Kaltak (CEO), Katia Zaitsev (COO), and Sarah Mick (CCO), Own blends features like short videos, images, and text posts with tools such as direct messaging and an upvote-based ranking system. But what sets Own apart is its token-based rewards and low platform fees, says TC.
Creators are paid in $OWN Tokens, which are distributed based on user engagement. “Most creators around the world don’t have access to monetization on major social platforms simply because of their location. With Own, we’ve built a system that levels the playing field,” Kaltak said to TC.
The platform offers creators a substantial earnings distribution through its payment system, where tips yield 80%, brand sponsorships and licensed content pay 90%, and sales in Own Shop generate 95%. The Base Layer 2 blockchain operates the app’s transactions to safeguard content rights while verifying ownership, reports TC.
“Without higher platform support and higher expectations of app ability for these creators, you’re ultimately doing a disservice to their loyal fans,” Mick said to TC.
Users can download the app for free through both iOS and Android platforms. The platform will introduce monetization tools during Q3, followed by the beta launch of Own Shop throughout this year, reports TC.
The startup has secured $5 million from major investors, including Sarah Mick and Transform Ventures, while building a user base of 40,000 people who are waiting for the platform, as noted by TC.
The emerging social media platform Own enters the market as a new player in the expanding movement to provide fair and worldwide creator compensation. Own also reflects a broader trend identified by analysts such as Yanis Varoufakis, who argue that economic value is increasingly generated within centralized digital platforms.
In this context, Own positions itself as an alternative by using blockchain to decentralize content ownership and earnings. Rather than relying on traditional platform-driven monetization models, it offers users more direct control over how their content is distributed, licensed, and monetized across the app.
Image by vecstock, from Unsplash
Scattered Spider Hackers Now Target U.S. Insurance Companies
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The cybercriminal group Scattered Spider, which operates under the alias UNC3944, has started attacking insurance companies throughout the United States
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Scattered Spider is now targeting U.S. insurance companies.
- The group uses phishing, SIM-swapping, and MFA fatigue attacks.
- The hackers impersonate helpdesk staff to access internal systems.
The Threat Intelligence Group at Google (GTIG) has confirmed multiple recent intrusions that match the group’s typical methods, which use advanced social engineering tactics to overcome robust cybersecurity systems.
“Google Threat Intelligence Group is now aware of multiple intrusions in the US which bear all the hallmarks of Scattered Spider activity. We are now seeing incidents in the insurance industry,” John Hultquist, Chief Analyst at GTIG, told Bleeping Computer .
Because Scattered Spider tends to strike one sector at a time, Hultquist warns that “the insurance industry should be on high alert.”
Previously, the group attacked major U.K. retailers like Marks & Spencer and Harrods through phishing, SIM-swapping, and MFA fatigue tactics to gain system access for deploying ransomware like DragonForce and RansomHub. These tools are designed to extract valuable data, while demanding ransom payments to restore access to essential systems.
The hackers start their attacks by pretending to be help desk staff while using AI-generated communications to deceive their targets, according to GTIG and other experts. The attackers gain access to elevate their privileges before they move across different systems within the company.
The group operates with financial goals while using direct communication methods to target organizations that have big IT and customer service teams, which they can manipulate through social engineering.
GTIG advises organizations to strengthen their identity protection measures while enhancing authentication protocols and providing staff training about impersonation tactics across email, phone, and messaging systems.
Organizations should implement active monitoring for abnormal login activities while reviewing their helpdesk credential reset procedures for employees who possess high-level system access.
The cybersecurity community recognizes UNC3944 as a major threat because the group maintains enough resources to send scam messages to almost every American citizen several times throughout the year.
