New Social App ‘Own’ Lets Anyone Earn From Content

The decentralized social media platform Own has entered public beta testing, just before TikTok must divest from the United States market.

The platform promises that this platform can generate money through blockchain tokens, regardless of their location or number of followers, as first reported by TechCrunch (TC).

Developed by Amir Kaltak (CEO), Katia Zaitsev (COO), and Sarah Mick (CCO), Own blends features like short videos, images, and text posts with tools such as direct messaging and an upvote-based ranking system. But what sets Own apart is its token-based rewards and low platform fees, says TC.

Creators are paid in $OWN Tokens, which are distributed based on user engagement. “Most creators around the world don’t have access to monetization on major social platforms simply because of their location. With Own, we’ve built a system that levels the playing field,” Kaltak said to TC.

The platform offers creators a substantial earnings distribution through its payment system, where tips yield 80%, brand sponsorships and licensed content pay 90%, and sales in Own Shop generate 95%. The Base Layer 2 blockchain operates the app’s transactions to safeguard content rights while verifying ownership, reports TC.

“Without higher platform support and higher expectations of app ability for these creators, you’re ultimately doing a disservice to their loyal fans,” Mick said to TC.

Users can download the app for free through both iOS and Android platforms. The platform will introduce monetization tools during Q3, followed by the beta launch of Own Shop throughout this year, reports TC.

The startup has secured $5 million from major investors, including Sarah Mick and Transform Ventures, while building a user base of 40,000 people who are waiting for the platform, as noted by TC.

The emerging social media platform Own enters the market as a new player in the expanding movement to provide fair and worldwide creator compensation. Own also reflects a broader trend identified by analysts such as Yanis Varoufakis, who argue that economic value is increasingly generated within centralized digital platforms.

In this context, Own positions itself as an alternative by using blockchain to decentralize content ownership and earnings. Rather than relying on traditional platform-driven monetization models, it offers users more direct control over how their content is distributed, licensed, and monetized across the app.