LOS ANGELES: Technology company ValuesCo has unveiled the design and initial partnerships for a decentralized social network expected to launch this summer.
Values Network was created to build a better social media experience by rewarding positive acts and removing “interruption advertising,” Andrew Berkowitz, cofounder and CEO of ValuesCo explained.
“Our objective is to build a more collaborative and ethical social media experience to benefit users, brands, creators, nonprofits, communities and [the] planet,” he said.
Values Network is composed of an interactive vertical video feed, a network of point-incentivized actions for users and a marketplace of rewards, a press release explained.
“It’s a natural evolution for us to drive forward a consumer-first destination that attracts partners, alongside our existing B2B2C approach,” Berkowitz added. “The next generation is consuming media and curating their own feeds in a way that is heavily impacting the traditional marketing funnel.”
Values Network will integrate gamification and rewards into marketing. Rewards and gamification are tied to acts, in collaboration with other users and brands.
ValuesCo launched Values Network to deliver new ways for social media users to connect as indicated by trends like data sovereignty and growth of platforms like Bluesky, Berkowitz added.
“Alternatives are now here,” he said. “Rather than turning a blind eye to the big platforms, our vision integrates them, supporting the future of advertising with creator and publisher-driven distribution.”
Launched in 2021, ValuesCo has focused work on building technology to grow collaboration toward achieving collective social and environmental goals including campaigns on climate change.
ValuesCo launched GenZero, a coalition-based climate action campaign and community in partnership with Time and a blockchain partner Celo to drive individuals to act on social and environmental challenges in November 2023.
“Since launching in 2021, we’ve focused on building tech to foster collaboration toward meaningful goals,” Berkowitz said.
The platform will be built solely on Aptos Labs’ blockchain and is backed by impact-driven investors including American business executive Frank McCourt’s Project Liberty.
Project Liberty has been attempting to purchase TikTok while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and its president Tomicah Tilleman will join the PRWeek Podcast at the end of the month.
ValuesCo is a private company based in Los Angeles.
