After going through, updating, and posting it one section at a time, the Steemit FAQ is up-to-date. This final Frequently Asked Questions post includes the section "Other Topics."
If you want to see the complete FAQ, here's a link to my Google Doc.
Previous Posts:
Part 1 - Intro
Part 2 - Account Management
Part 3 - Reputation
Part 4 - Payouts
Part 5 - Money
Part 6 - Posting
Part 7 - Voting
Part 8 - Security
Part 9 - Technical Questions
Other Topics
Where can I purchase official Steemit merchandise?
There is no official merchandise yet, but it is easy to make Steemit gear on zazzle.com. For instructions, check out this link:
@artist1989/custom-steem-and-steemit-art-and-instructions-on-how-to-create-your-very-own-steem-steemit-gear-t-shirts-coffee-mugs-etc
Am I allowed to use the Steemit logo?
Currently, the Steem and Steemit logos are the same and is free to use. In the future, Steemit, Inc. will have its own logo created in the next few months so that it can be distinguished from Steem. The Steemit logo will be proprietary while Steem and its three squiggles will remain open for public use.
What can I post about? Is anything banned?
There are no official rules to steemit. However, the community is learning to have online etiquette as people here value their reputation.
@beanz/the-unwritten-rules-of-steemit
Posting your original content is encouraged. Users wishing to post to Steemit and their other blogs simultaneously may do so. Users from @steemcleaners are constantly on the lookout for plagiarism, so you may be asked to provide proof of blog ownership. You should only have to submit proof once.
Users may post something that is not their original work, but must cite their sources. It is unlikely that posts with links only will get rewarded. You can increase your chance of getting a reward by adding your own thoughts to the content.
Prohibition of content from the blockchain is not possible, and nothing can be deleted from the blockchain; at most, it can be removed from the front-end layer, Steemit.com.
The lack of clarity may be a result of non-uniform laws across the globe. What is legal in one country may be illegal in another. Entire networks or mail providers are affected in some cases where a particular government bans their operation. The emergence of a clear-cut "guideline" may not happen for years to come, if ever, in part because of the global differences in legal frameworks. Also, in part due to the difficulties involved in enforcing anything at the level of the blockchain (which is not very desirable).
While trying to remain uncensored, as a US company, Steemit, Inc. may be required to remove some things from Steemit.com, such as child pornography.
Steemit is intended for a general audience and, as a result, some Steemit Content may discuss or depict adult-oriented topics. We realize that this content may not be appropriate or desirable for some of our readers depending on their current location, age, background or personal views. As a result, we mark this content as Not Safe For Work (#NSFW).
Marking Steemit Content as NSFW does not prevent you from being able to access this content but, instead, helps you make informed decisions about the type of content you view on Steemit.
https://steemit.com/tos.html
What is @steemcleaners?
Steemcleaners are a group of Steemians concerned with the plague of plagiarism, copy paste, spam, scams and other forms of abuse that keep cropping up on Steemit. Fighting individually seemed fruitless, often resulting in retaliatory flagging, harassment, and other issues. Therefore, we have created a group account to stand as a united front in defense of Steemit.
@steemcleaners/announcing-steemcleaners-the-steemit-abuse-fighting-team
Am I allowed to have multiple Steemit accounts?
Yes, you may have multiple accounts.
Can I remain anonymous?
Yes, absolutely. You are entitled to your anonymity. You may notice some cases of users seeking verification of identity on certain steemit accounts. This is because if they are claiming to be somebody, (and not anonymous) then verification is favorable. The reason for this is because users who put a face to their profile often gain more rewards than those who don’t. For this reason there has been some cases of identity theft. When a user discloses their identity and removes their anonymity they may be asked to verify that what they are saying is true. You are still however, entitled to remain anonymous.
What is a blockchain?
A public ledger of all transactions ever executed. It is essentially a distributed database where pieces of information are added in a sequence of small blocks, hence the name “block-chain.”
How is Steem different from Bitcoin?
On a technical level, the two cryptocurrencies are running different technologies for their blockchains. Based on Graphene, Steem uses a system of “Witnesses” to carry out the bulk of the work involved in maintaining the blockchain.
Regarding economic differences, Bitcoin has a maximum number of coins of 21 million and a relatively low inflation rate. Steem is different in that regard with no maximum number of possible coins in existence as well as built-in dilution protection in the form of Steem Power. Steem users can also avoid volatility through the existence of the Steem-Backed-Dollar (SBD or SD), a token which is floating in value around the $1 mark. Additionally, SBDs pay some interest (check your wallet to see the current APR).
Is there a Steemit mobile app?
There is not an official Steemit mobile app, but there is a third-party mobile app developed by @goodkarma for IOS and Android called eSteem. Note: Exercise extreme caution when logging in to third-party apps. We recommend only logging in using your Posting Key in case there are any security holes.
eSteem: @good-karma/finally-esteem-is-on-ios-app-store-other-development-updates
Why aren’t whales voting up my posts?
It is possible that it’s just a bad start with hard luck. Most people don’t get lucky with their first few posts.
There are some things you can ask yourself:
- Am I always writing quality, original content?
- Am I providing value to the community with my content?
- Am I steadily building up a following with each post?
- Am I learning from my mistakes?
- Am I learning from others’ successes?
- Am I actively engaging in discussions and providing a unique perspective?
- Am I offering to help other Steemit users when they ask for help on projects?
- Am I starting/joining/participating in local Steemit meetup groups?
If you are doing all these things, it is only a matter of time before your content starts getting upvoted by whales. You can also visit the #writing-exchange channel on steemit.chat if you want to get some constructive criticism of your writing to help you improve.
@shenanigator/come-to-give-not-take-the-power-of-reciprocity
Can I receive notifications when I get votes?
Currently, there are no options to receive notifications for votes directly on Steemit.com. But, Steemit does have notifications for comments, replies, and mentions.
The third-party application https://steemstats.com/#/, developed by @jesta, has an option to set up notifications on your computer. There is also a Google Chrome app called Steemification that will notify you when someone upvotes or replies to you.
Why can I only add five tags?
Steemians can merge many tags into one; therefore they are redundant. Also, it helps prevent spam.
What is the difference between Proof of Work and Proof of Stake?
Proof of work - Miners solve a complex mathematical problem. The miner that solves the problem first adds the block to the blockchain. The network rewards the miner for doing so.
Proof of stake - Requires ownership of the cryptocurrency. The more cryptocurrency you own, the more mining power you have. Benefits: eliminates the need for expensive mining rigs, runs on a tiny fraction of the power, and it requires miners to have a stake in the network.
@g-dubs/more-on-the-nxt-cryptocurrency-proof-of-stake-vs-proof-of-work
Can users connect to and use Steemit from countries which have national firewalls, such as China?
For now, yes. However, the GFW (Great Firewall of China) will likely become problematic in the future. Here is an excellent article on Steem and its adoption in Asia:
@ekitcho/the-future-of-steem-is-in-asia-intro-ep1-steem-china-censorship-and-scalability
What does Steemit’s development roadmap look like?
You can view the 2017 Roadmap here:
@steemitblog/steemit-2017-roadmap
What third-party tools are there for Steemit?
There are a lot of them, and people are constantly developing more.
http://steemtools.com/
Will I get a 1099 (IRS income tax form) from Steemit?
No, you are not being paid by Steemit. The Steem network pays you. It is your responsibility to determine what, if any, taxes apply to the transactions you make, and it is your responsibility to report and remit the correct tax to the appropriate tax authority. By creating an account, you agree that Steemit is not responsible for determining whether taxes apply to your Steem transactions or for collecting, reporting, withholding, or remitting any taxes arising from any Steem transactions.
What are the age requirements to join Steemit?
Although we welcome users from all walks of life, Steemit is not intended for or directed at individuals under the age of 13. Therefore, people under the age of 13 may not create an account or otherwise access or use the Services.
What languages are supported?
English is the primary language used on the SteemIt platform, but communities are forming around other languages.
If posting in a language other than English, how will I get recognized?
You can use language hashtags to help you to reach the audience that speaks your language. Language-specific groups include:
Chinese = cn
German = deutsch
Korean = kr
Russian = ru
Swedish = sv
What is the Steemit Whitepaper and what is its purpose?
For clarification, there is only a Steem Whitepaper. There is not yet a Steemit Whitepaper.
The Steem Whitepaper was written to describe the mechanics of the token system that makes decentralized content incentives and distribution possible in a way that can improve web technologies across the board. It is also applicable to Steemit, one of the first websites to plug into the Steem blockchain. Users who have read the Steem Whitepaper will better understand how their interactions with Steemit are interactions with Steem, the decentralized network.
It is worth noting that the Whitepaper hasn’t been updated since Steem came into existence. Many changes have been made since that time, so much of the Whitepaper is now incorrect.
https://steem.io/SteemWhitePaper.pdf
Is Steemit decentralized? What about Steem?
Steem as a blockchain is more decentralized than Steemit.com. Steemit, Inc. as a company, may be subject to laws that Steem (as an impersonal blockchain database distributed all over the world) is not.
Where is the Steemit Privacy Policy?
https://steemit.com/privacy.html
I read through the FAQ but still need more help. Is there a place to go for more help?
There are a few things you can do:
- Search Steemit for blog posts on the subject, and you will likely find a lot of information on the topic.
- Read these free ebooks about Steemit. They are full of helpful information:
@donkeypong/simply-steemit-your-no-nonsense-guide-to-getting-started
@donkeypong/announcement-steemit-101-e-book-released-for-free-part-1 - Head on over to Steemit Chat, this is highly recommended! https://steemit.chat/home
@firepower/dummies-guide-to-using-steemit-chat-effectively-everyday - Just ask. We think you’ll find the Steemit community very helpful.