Title: A photo-sharing social network based on blockchain technology

Authors: Jiang Duan; Li Kang; Zhi Chen; Tao Peng; Yifeng Wang

Addresses: The Blockchain Research Center of China, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, 555, Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China ' The Blockchain Research Center of China, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, 555, Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China ' The Blockchain Research Center of China, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, 555, Liutai Avenue, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China ' Chengdu 9Broad Technology Co. Ltd., Taifeng International Plaza 29, Section 2, Renmin Road (Middle) Qingyang District, Chengdu, China ' Chengdu 9Broad Technology Co. Ltd., Taifeng International Plaza 29, Section 2, Renmin Road (Middle) Qingyang District, Chengdu, China

Abstract: The online social networks have greatly transformed the way that people interact with each other, and have salient impact on our lives. However, there exist common security challenges and limitations in attracting users' activities due to the centralised structure of current online social networks. We exploit the blockchain technology to design a new photo-sharing social network, in which users' social behaviours are stored in the blockchain. Blockchain technology allows the authenticity and credibility of data to be improved and precludes data tampering. To improve efficiency, we design a new blockchain consensus algorithm to support fast and frequent transactions. Moreover, a new incentive model is designed to quantify the contribution of user in a more accurate and trustworthy way, thereafter, reward the user with financial incentives, as well as enable the user to easily control and claim the ownership of every photos they share to the network.

Keywords: blockchain; online social network; OSN; photo-sharing social network; PSSN; decentralised network; incentive model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2020.112078

International Journal of Technology Management, 2020 Vol.84 No.1/2, pp.70 - 85

Received: 10 May 2019
Accepted: 22 Dec 2019
Published online: 04 Jan 2021 *

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