What is Nostr? A Guide to the Decentralized Social Media Protocol
Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz about Nostr, a new social media protocol, particularly within the bitcoin community. Nostr applies Bitcoin’s principles to a communication policy. Curious about Nostr and how to create an account? You’re in the right place.
We believe it’s important to explore and embrace new technologies that help us gain more control over our assets. Our online identity is becoming one of our greatest assets. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable joining over 3,000,000 users already enjoying a decentralized social media experience.
What is Nostr?
Nostr (short for “Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays”) is a decentralized social media protocol. It gives users control of their data and posts, unlike platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Nostr stores data in a private key held by the user, not a platform owner.
Like bitcoin, Nostr is open-source. It enables global, decentralized, and censorship-resistant public communications, which is why many bitcoiners are drawn to the platform.
Understanding Nostr Keys
Creating a Nostr account involves generating a public/secret key pair, similar to bitcoin. Your public key acts like an email for signing up, while your secret key (private key) is like a password for access. Be cautious: if you lose your secret key, it cannot be recovered.
While it might sound technical, many clients make creating new keys easy, just like bitcoin wallets do.
Your public key begins with the prefix “npub1,” and your private key begins with “nsec1.” It’s crucial to store your private key somewhere secure. If someone gets your private key they get access to your Nostr account and would be able to send messages and create public posts posing as you. While at the surface this might seem harmless, there are real-world implications.
Protocol and Clients
Similar to how Bitcoin is a decentralized protocol for storing and exchanging value, Nostr is a decentralized protocol for sharing content on the internet.
To interact with Nostr, you need a client—an app or platform that helps you communicate with the protocol. Different clients create unique user experiences but still use the same protocol. This allows cross-platform integration, like having your Twitter and Instagram feeds communicate seamlessly.
When using a Nostr client, you control your information. Test different clients to find the best fit. All your posts, followers, and messages are tied to your secret key, not the client.
We have used multiple different clients. On iOS, we have found Damus to be the best option. On Android, we have found Amethyst to be the best option. For a web experience, we have found Iris.to to be the best option. However, you are able to try some out and change your client at any time.
Benefits of Nostr
Using Nostr lets you join a global, decentralized community valuing privacy, security, and control over personal data. If you seek a social media platform that empowers you, choose Nostr. Join millions of users already embracing a decentralized social media experience!
Don’t forget to follow Bitcoin Well on Nostr – npub19mf4jm44umnup4he4cdqrjk3us966qhdnc3zrlpjx93y4x95e3uq9qkfu2
Benny Sarnelli - Senior Customer Experience Leader @ Bitcoin Well
Meet Benny, the Senior Customer Experience Leader for Bitcoin Well. Benny is dedicated to educating and onboarding new users into the world of Bitcoin and is passionate about helping people understand and navigate the world of cryptocurrency.
