Digital Social Hour Episode Summary
Episode: "TikTok Bans? OWN App Is the Future of Social Media! | Katia Zaitsev DSH #1229"
Release Date: March 10, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages in an in-depth conversation with Katia Zaitsev, a visionary in the social media landscape and the brains behind the innovative OWN App. The discussion navigates the turbulent waters of social media censorship, the potential bans of TikTok, and introduces OWN as a groundbreaking alternative poised to redefine content creation and ownership.

The TikTok Dilemma and Its Implications

[02:19] Katia Zaitsev:
"TikTok's all over the news. Is it being banned? Is it not being banned? It's created a fear of the unknown that's caused a huge ruckus and people are looking for new options."

Katia delves into the ongoing controversies surrounding TikTok, highlighting the uncertainty and anxiety it has sown among creators and users alike. The possibility of TikTok bans has not only disrupted content creators' livelihoods but also ignited a broader conversation about data ownership and content control.

[04:31] Katia Zaitsev:
"Individuals, creators, and small businesses are understanding the fear or the problems associated with not owning the content that you create, the audience, and especially when you're dedicating your whole entire livelihood."

She emphasizes the critical issue of content and data ownership, pointing out that over 6 million Americans have lost their livelihoods due to platform instability. The fear of losing revenue streams has pushed many creators to seek alternatives, signaling a significant shift in the social media ecosystem.

The Rise of AI and Its Impact on Social Media

[12:15] Katia Zaitsev:
"AI has gotten so good. What people are doing now with my most popular guests is they'll have them talking, they'll change the way their mouth moves and, like, pitch their product. But they're acting like they're on my podcast. Isn't that crazy?"

The conversation transitions to the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence and its profound effects on social media. Katia discusses the emergence of deep fakes and AI-generated content, raising concerns about authenticity and the potential for misinformation. She warns of a future where AI could manipulate public perception, citing examples like AI-generated declarations of war.

[14:44] Katia Zaitsev:
"Deep dives are going to be dangerous because overnight we're going to see, you know, the president of any country, you know, declare war. Right. And it could be an AI."

Katia advocates for stringent protocols and ethical guidelines to govern AI usage, stressing the importance of maintaining human oversight to prevent AI from undermining societal structures.

Introducing the OWN App: A Paradigm Shift in Social Media

[17:56] Katia Zaitsev:
"OWN is a new social media app for the new era for content creators. It's a creator-first platform where every user on OWN owns 100% of their followers and audience and also 100% of the content they create."

Katia unveils the OWN App, positioning it as the future of social media. Unlike traditional platforms, OWN ensures complete ownership and control for creators over their content and audience. This innovative approach addresses the long-standing issues of data ownership and fair compensation.

Key Features of OWN App:

• Ownership and Control: Creators retain 100% ownership of their content and audience.
• Fair Compensation: OWN offers up to 50% more in payments compared to existing platforms.
• Zero Bot Proof: Ensures genuine interaction and engagement without automated bots.
• Merit-Based Algorithm: Focuses on content quality rather than user data, allowing even users with zero followers to go viral.
• Blockchain Integration: Utilizes blockchain technology for secure identity verification and IP tracking.

[28:33] Katia Zaitsev:
"Our creator fund is tokenized and operates as an engagement and analytics platform. We'll pay out creators fairly based on their engagement, regardless of their geographic location."

Katia introduces the Creator Fund, a tokenized system designed to reward creators based on their actual engagement metrics. This decentralized approach ensures transparency and equitable compensation globally.

Addressing the Creator Economy Crisis

[32:34] Katia Zaitsev:
"Our Creator Fund is different. It's a tokenized creator fund, and it's going to read your engagement on our platform—likes, comments, shares—and create a merit score engagement rate to pay you out."

The episode sheds light on the declining revenue streams for creators on established platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Katia highlights the frustrations of creators who, despite having millions of views and followers, receive minimal financial returns. She underscores the necessity for a platform like OWN that prioritizes fair payment and genuine content monetization.

[33:18] Katia Zaitsev:
"We're providing fair and equal opportunity no matter if you're in the US, Mexico City, Canada, Africa, India, wherever the case is, but also fair compensation."

Katia emphasizes OWN's commitment to inclusivity and fairness, ensuring that creators from diverse backgrounds and regions have equal access to monetization opportunities.

Future Outlook and Call to Action

As the episode concludes, Katia shares exciting developments, including the upcoming launch of OWN at South by Southwest (SXSW). She invites listeners to join the platform's VIP beta list and participate in their token giveaway initiative.

[35:29] Katia Zaitsev:
"We're giving away 100 million tokens to content creators. Download the app, receive your affiliate link, and share it with your friends and followers to earn tokens."

Katia's passionate advocacy for OWN underscores a pivotal moment in the social media landscape, where creator empowerment and fair compensation are set to take center stage.

Conclusion

This episode of Digital Social Hour provides a thought-provoking exploration of the current challenges in the social media realm, particularly focusing on the uncertainties surrounding TikTok and the urgent need for platforms that prioritize creators' rights and fair compensation. Katia Zaitsev's introduction of the OWN App presents a promising solution aimed at revolutionizing the creator economy, ensuring that content creators can sustain their livelihoods while maintaining complete ownership and control over their work.

Notable Quotes:

• Katia Zaitsev [02:19]:
  "TikTok's all over the news. Is it being banned? Is it not being banned? It's created a fear of the unknown that's caused a huge ruckus and people are looking for new options."

• Katia Zaitsev [12:15]:
  "AI has gotten so good. What people are doing now with my most popular guests is they'll have them talking, they'll change the way their mouth moves and, like, pitch their product. But they're acting like they're on my podcast. Isn't that crazy?"

• Katia Zaitsev [17:56]:
  "OWN is a new social media app for the new era for content creators. It's a creator-first platform where every user on OWN owns 100% of their followers and audience and also 100% of the content they create."

• Katia Zaitsev [28:33]:
  "Our creator fund is tokenized and operates as an engagement and analytics platform. We'll pay out creators fairly based on their engagement, regardless of their geographic location."

• Katia Zaitsev [32:34]:
  "Our Creator Fund is different. It's a tokenized creator fund, and it's going to read your engagement on our platform—likes, comments, shares—and create a merit score engagement rate to pay you out."

• Katia Zaitsev [33:18]:
  "We're providing fair and equal opportunity no matter if you're in the US, Mexico City, Canada, Africa, India, wherever the case is, but also fair compensation."

Stay Connected:

• Download the OWN App: Be part of the future of social media by joining the VIP beta list at OWN App Website.
• Follow Katia Zaitsev: Stay updated with the latest developments and announcements from OWN.

This summary captures the essence of the conversation between Sean Kelly and Katia Zaitsev, highlighting the critical issues in the current social media landscape and presenting the OWN App as a transformative solution for content creators worldwide.