Ethereum Founder on How Facebook Can Do Crypto Right
Facebook could use blockchain technology to overhaul its business model, giving users more control over how their data is used, said Joseph Lubin, the founder of the crypto platform Ethereum.
Using a decentralized ledger would allow Facebook users to “store their own personal data in encrypted form” and decide which companies have access to their information, Lubin said. Giving users more control over their information could increase the quality of Facebook's data.
“If you know that this data is protected well, you can put it on data markets and Facebook can potentially participate in those sorts of data markets,” Lubin said Monday in an interview with Cheddar.
A new Ethereum-based system, uPort, is already providing this service. Users can store all of their data in a secure "wallet" that can be used to log in to other apps and make digital transactions.
Last week, Cheddar [reported](https://cheddar.com/videos/facebook-plans-to-create-its-own-cryptocurrency) that Facebook may be building its own cryptocurrency, part of the social media company's exploration of how to use blockchain technology.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/ethereum-co-founder-joseph-lubin-2).
A Senate bill unveiled on Wednesday looks to tackleonline safety for children by regulating Big Tech and social media platforms to deter users from content that can harm their mental health. Irene Ly, a policy counsel for the age-based ratings and review organization Common Sense Media, joined Cheddar News to break down the potential of the Kids Online Safety Act. "We can't be imposing such a big burden on parents to be doing it all on theirselves," Ly said. "I think you also have to keep in mind that parents often didn't grow up with social media, so they don't understand what it's like to be addicted to social media or really understand how they work."
While many still remain skeptical about the metaverse, big tech firms and even one big bank are ready to expand their virtual worlds. Facebook parent company has pivoted so hard it will now call its employees 'Metamates,' and even JPMorgan Chase has created its own digital lounge on one virtual platform. While the sector remains young, there seems to be significant investment opportunity, especially with companies like Nvidia. Adam Johnson, a portfolio strategist at Adviser Investments, joins Closing Bell to discuss which companies could win in this space, consumer appetite, and more.
Marc Blinder, Co-Founder and CEO of Aikon, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where he discusses how his company is helping businesses use blockchain applications without needing to learn the intricacies of the new technology.
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have introduced a new bill to afford greater protection to minors on social media. The genesis of the Kids Online Safety Act came from a Facebook whistleblower case exposing the harm apps can have on the mental health of young girls.
Ride share competitors Uber and Lyft both posted their fourth quarter earnings days apart from each other. Both companies have been trying to get back on their feet after taking some pandemic-related hits, but the Omicron variant had other ideas as the year came to a close, with each company taking a hit in ridership in December. Lance Ippolito, head trader at The Future of Wealth explains how Uber and Lyft measured up this earnings period and why Uber may still have an edge over the competition.
