tldr; Big corporations host most content now. IPFS gives us a way to easily host content for each other and that means it’s hard to censor.
IPFS (Interplanetary File System) is a protocol just like HTTP and others that the Internet currently uses everywhere.
The main difference is in how files get from A to B. In a traditional system say a video goes viral and a bunch of websites post a copy of it. Each one is a discrete copy. This leads to both centralization of resources, vertical integration, and lack of competition. Centralization always leads to censorship.
For IPFS and other similar systems the video file is hashed (generating a universally unique identifier for the specific contents of that file) and then added to IPFS with that file hash as it’s location on the network. All those sites could host a copy, but they’re not discrete copies. They all join a network that is hosting the file together through pinning. If someone tries to get clever and doctor the original video a different file hash is generated and so it has a different location on the network.
Say you have a folder full of videos that prove that massive organized voter fraud took place. If you put those videos up on YouTube it’s going to be pulled really fast, same with streamable, same with many smaller platforms once pressure is applied. If you post them on IPFS through their open source desktop software you can “Pin” them yourself and then share that link. Then others can “Pin” those files as well. The more people who participate the faster and more reliably the files can be accessed. Very similar to torrents, but significantly more developed and with a whole lot of momentum.
Here’s a real world example of how you can use it when you’re hosting information that the government would rather you not be sharing:
You can help keep content like this available by learning about IPFS (it's really easy) and specifically how to "pin" files.
The easiest way to start contributing is installing the IPFS Web Companion:
Can you please explain this to me like I'm five. Thank you.
tldr; Big corporations host most content now. IPFS gives us a way to easily host content for each other and that means it’s hard to censor.
IPFS (Interplanetary File System) is a protocol just like HTTP and others that the Internet currently uses everywhere.
The main difference is in how files get from A to B. In a traditional system say a video goes viral and a bunch of websites post a copy of it. Each one is a discrete copy. This leads to both centralization of resources, vertical integration, and lack of competition. Centralization always leads to censorship.
For IPFS and other similar systems the video file is hashed (generating a universally unique identifier for the specific contents of that file) and then added to IPFS with that file hash as it’s location on the network. All those sites could host a copy, but they’re not discrete copies. They all join a network that is hosting the file together through pinning. If someone tries to get clever and doctor the original video a different file hash is generated and so it has a different location on the network.
Say you have a folder full of videos that prove that massive organized voter fraud took place. If you put those videos up on YouTube it’s going to be pulled really fast, same with streamable, same with many smaller platforms once pressure is applied. If you post them on IPFS through their open source desktop software you can “Pin” them yourself and then share that link. Then others can “Pin” those files as well. The more people who participate the faster and more reliably the files can be accessed. Very similar to torrents, but significantly more developed and with a whole lot of momentum.
Here’s a real world example of how you can use it when you’re hosting information that the government would rather you not be sharing: