We’ve been cooking up some nice updates to Grill to improve functionality, quality of life, and ease of use. Here are the most recent four:

## **Embeds**

**![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/FrykLh9p7-nSuh_y_q-AfYNA4JtFgDUzTgUpZn8q78uMt345S2RwIxabUEK7LTD8ySb1WlN0rfMHAIaZvSq0mlb0dmxhvHW-nvDMDcwWuQB37qq1Dm8LtYHpeWMVsIw50GunM5bxywkSbY06W5oGk_g)**

Grill now supports embedding links from X, YouTube, Joystream, and SoundCloud! Sharing content into Web3 has never been easier, and provides yet another content stream for creators on Grill to monetize.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/KB13L7NA9JBY91C-H44hEq3HIT-mndbkBDyjsw_U0hcXbIS2OxtILHSIdTIPa0kGelfBi_0uYQbZw3WHQ11yFxji1ISpMIk52wZVZtAQLz0VJn_bt4zQpLtYyA6epoAq346i0geDl9tRF717DNNdWZg)

## **Login Flow & Session Sharing**

Grill’s login process has been slightly reworked, with an emphasis on users using their Grill keys for a smoother and faster login process.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/fM3kVyY77ZTGcwD1GTztilZby7m00_C5Ko0LJqT8L5Nc4t-Adl-yi_zzjNiLCO7ULZuAhQzEJAKPJ1CZW3nbMgEyTiKJ2v490lp4xgJYz3aYUFy3HS4vreDWcSh5OU_yX87q3IEasNiuyH65u5fgcpw)

New (or returning) users without a Grill key can still access Grill using their Google or X accounts, or by connecting a blockchain wallet.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Mym-JRj3V4HYXE-DR4REwdHBWrUk9CYsQrrgOGsLSMYcoriSIr4iY4_lxLmEJ55fGxUvrqnRdIggFrl88R2Nigz1-Xbn1734ahn6kMBea4HE03MZGFmeX4ilpwrlWK_VADv618HpT-GNNeSnHaZC77Y)

Grillers can easily log into their account from multiple devices using QR codes as well by selecting the Scan QR option on the Log in with Grill Key page!

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/YzNO-jSTMWbyRkkAXKXBH9sYoFzbiBR8U7yt0ITCFJA_5KI4xWWK1drtRWafAc-WphtCpiRDIsW8kqdgfZ0zsNzyDDzDJ4oACuOU765542jU4-nvvcWMapsxN8qricGAXjFQHVRHePxxK4fABFbtQk0)

To find your QR code, click on your profile picture in the top right corner of Grill, select Privacy and Security, and Share Session. Make sure to keep this QR code and the login link private, as they will grant access to your account!

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/84s4dNH9oHLZ3VDpsz2vYNt8fiyXMNKS8He8e1PMDvAf89v5cYEvlm83INnUe7utVuHmSvFch-bhsjbDHGk6UIQeb5vk3ZYIVW4sfEUJFOXhMtqQ3H_uC8012tNYDppuJIHFo9nyEWKRP8L_UQcZHco)

## **Space Permissions**

**![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/r5k4CycwgUwQhsIQ77sk1ebw9spG_oXPuDKHoTPOLWfW8LZssC9ISAdoPnsSO3UqJz-2z_sPg-txhr9oYYMgjHb4BVdzeZMrU7iDfEK1OY5daSRR1t0ENXjY-Bfblc0FNKMpPFhX2r-u1GyYn6vyDvw)**

The user experience for managing space permissions has been overhauled, with all of the options now appearing in one place on the Edit space page. Space owners are able to have complete control over who posts in their spaces.

When creating a new space, it will default to *Only you can post*, which can later be changed by editing the space.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/-vxLdwOSJ6FXF4lnlv395rSSJyiixoWv0duRvvQVRs3wjL6Yco-vi2VaJhXt9__pFSoRWb-P94AB9UwopDpTurw5PCsbI-rKvtFANLCAEMzZlhenMSu3loXy_oRTJJPUQe1qTlnh9heVIYynRIO54go)

## **Notifications**

**![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/agYJto54ALexcs5QPqgxMRAjaWKZKXMQCRuSdmGByWoWzQ12DxDZHGAnPu-3F0N7W-QUu0gc7gylxcYIhLAo3e7P9rVcGOOO5uUSJM2tWsO0vdkXEwWRpFcTMRxWhCbCazAxbPmfmGeOBGJKvdZsAOs)**

Push notifications (using either WebPush or our notifications bot on Telegram) have been updated, with improved clarity and a wider range of notifications. Users can now be notified of activity on their posts or comments, such as when someone replies to them. This will help improve engagement on the platform, and in the result improve results for active users!

---

Make sure to set up your notification settings to stay engaged with the flow of life on Grill! What other features and quality of life improvements would you like to see? Let us know in the comments!

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March's Grill Improvements

While storage is cheap and Grill’s current storage requirements are not enormous, they will be at some point in the future, and the network should find a standard practice for dealing with storage fees.

What do you think would be the optimal solution?

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Feedback Request For The Future Of Content Storage

Last month saw the launch of Subsocial’s super-app! Launched as Grill, the existing Grill.chat and PolkaVerse apps were both combined into one, with some fiery branding. Let’s take a look at that and more in our March 2024 recap.

## **Apillon Integrates Grill.chat**

[Apillon](https://apillon.io/), a Web3 development platform, has [integrated ](https://twitter.com/Apillon/status/1765328646384783705)[Grill.chat](http://Grill.chat) into their offering, allowing developers building apps with Apillon to easily add social features to their apps. We’ve already seen thousands of transactions come through Apillon as developers experiment, and are looking forward to seeing more apps launch!

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/78beOkRKTP8YMpp-9kVMnIbB-3ymLgwfy7_z0tda_LvzPewRXc003psMACLJ-cUKajMDpqGBzoVY_thMvbJnGgUKrjjrUWJgCgQCsqw611TJr4jsSMw5SwCHukwzpAI1Vb9Xr-6nGZRsGTmNgA3MuV4)

## **The Launch Of GrillApp.net**

March 6th saw the release of Subsocial’s superapp [Grill](https://grillapp.net/)! Combining Grill.chat with PolkaVerse, Grill packages all of Subsocial’s functionality into one application, complete with a wallet-free user experience, allowing anyone to onboard to Web3! Check out the [full announcement](https://grillapp.net/@subsocial/fireworks-and-fun-grill-app-net-launches-upgrading-content-86633?ref=4779) for all of the details.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/UZIYIf4m89zO5hPw7EatxHBKPz8we7RAQgNXQQR0jzYYlY6UC_3gMpuQ3qAC6iKrB9STwVNOGE9T39TuiiuLibdlrPMzlko-xpAvjnuFwDWpxkM2K7aUzgC66VSypRCu9owimHwLxvM32BEsgaDYJ5k)

## **Monetization & Moderation**

A [post](https://grillapp.net/@subsocial/content-quality-monetization-and-moderation-on-subsocial-91894?ref=4779) was published exploring the link between monetization on Subsocial and moderation, and the power that applications have. This came along with the release of Grill’s [Content Policy](https://grillapp.net/legal/content-policy), which is worth a short read.

## **SubWallet Contest**

SubWallet partnered with Subsocial for a [Grand Content Contest](https://grillapp.net/6479/80-000-sub-up-for-grabs-join-grill-x-sub-wallet-content-91982?ref=6479), rewarding users with SUB for great posts about SubWallet on Grill. There were a ton of great submissions, and [35 creators won](https://grillapp.net/6479/35-winners-revealed-the-grill-x-sub-wallet-content-contest-99030?ref=6479) a combined prize pool of 80,000 SUB!

## **March’s Grill Improvements**

Grill received a number of upgrades in March!

First, a view counter was added to every post, giving creators an idea of their reach. In this case, a view is counted when a post stays on someone’s screen for 3+ seconds.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/4Juw1U86ivbghxLJs1Tx9GGIlVG2c-5tO7Gi5I70NQX7Pq31rbAdbgi70MQNCX8Ka3DHpM36E5KMHQZPOxJwDlqOH0o14eX0n_ZG1dMo-HvVTOYegb65Rd422zMAa866HuJ3cHW1psUd6ikHgdEVzzg)

Following that, notifications and the login UX was improved, support was added for embedding tweets, and [more](https://grillapp.net/@subsocial/march-s-grill-improvements-102730?ref=4779)!

## **How Should Future Storage Payments Be Handled?**

A post was put out to collect feedback on who should pay for content storage in the future. Applications? Users? Maybe apps can pay to store a post for free for 6 months, but after that the user would need to pay to store it, or let it disappear. Some community members have provided great insights already, so [let us know what you think](https://grillapp.net/@subsocial/feedback-request-for-the-future-of-content-storage-106190?ref=4779)!

---

How have you been liking the new Grill app so far? Keep letting us know your thoughts and feedback!

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March 2024 In Review

The “Connect via Polkadot” login option has been returned to the main page of the login modal, along with some changes for users choosing to login with their Polkadot wallet.

Grill uses proxy accounts to remove the constant confirmation pop-ups (which also enables logins via X and Google). Essentially, your main Polkadot account lets the proxy account sign transactions for it (but only social actions — nothing to do with moving tokens or other sensitive information). This proxy account is stored in the browser, letting Grill sign the transactions for you. 

Previously, the proxy account held energy, which was used to pay for transaction fees. However, if a user’s proxy account ran out of energy, Grill stopped working for them, and the [Energy Station](https://grillapp.net/energy) page wasn’t set up to let users easily add more energy to their proxy.

Now, users logging in with their Polkadot wallet will have the energy for their transactions come from their main Polkadot account, meaning they can easily see how much energy they have left, and replenish their [energy](https://grillapp.net/energy) balance!

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Updates To Grill's Login Flow

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BeefTown

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Creators can now create chats for their profile (main) space, allowing them to further engage with their communities!

On the mission to transform Grill into an all-in-one social and community platform, Grill’s chat functionality is being increasingly integrated into the social networking side of the application.

If you are a creator, head over to your space to create your dedicated chat! Then, your community members will see the Chat tab when viewing your space, allowing them to easily stay in touch with each other and with you.

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*6jXFKqWzoXzd8Updls1zgw.png)

Want to hold some community contests? Make a post about it, and then discuss the details in your chat!

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Create Your Own Creator Chat Community!

Governance proposals on Polkadot can now be viewed and discussed on Grill’s[ OpenGov page](https://grillapp.net/c/opengov)!

Polkadot’s Open Communication Layer, built on Subsocial, has finally been completed, with the release of support for OpenGov on Grill. This comes as the final feature outlined in[ Polkadot Referendum #119](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/119).

Proposals can be viewed with their descriptions, and provide an overview of how the vote currently stands, including the approval and support numbers.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/vWesGIr2PdxUP0CnUugAz0gPnUJNSXwQFY-s0kpm3g0JPCgaMgxA2ZqYG_34L1RwhXNgET4TX-xzwbhbpRcB2gFSYx8X89cxK_aLK4JIUdgZLn8XSX83Yu9UpoytxvPnXCgoZHbA7X0FT38hm4-kksY)

Comments on proposals are aggregated from **both** [**Polkassembly**](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/) **and** [**Subsquare**](http://polkadot.subsquare.io/), letting you see all of the discourse around every proposal!

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/eAK0j0paXgUQR-ne1AJO7uZStCcQe69Hg2dfHvCg3BYwRPz-D_r5UrLuJUUzMyoRXHcbmq-SC9MiciEvOJZs8D3KoNHGxWrGDl3UsyEUlUUNTO9dcOJ0IhmMa6nta1G2vQNQFjs-Zcop6_HFHZYi6FI)

Clicking Show all comments will open the chat sidebar, where you can view comments from Polkassembly and Subsquare in the Other Sources tab, view comments made on Grill directly, and leave your own comments on the proposal. The layout is still being experimented with and may change.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/SABgp6XK7K1Iyj-gKQO2pv00ThKm3lWwYVyHzOZFt7hU_a5Qep_Rqah6IJ7Q41Uex8Tur6HoZaLQqyJlkkJ5mOFszAVHywmceGpMeaWUMC1CRzmOTkC1Gg99qim3olQQvzoHy3AgwvbcSI81w1NbLyY)

In the future we hope to see proposal discussions in the ecosystem united more fully, with Grill comments visible on both Polkassembly and Subsquare as well. For now, Grill provides an easy way to see the whole conversation around a proposal, and remember, **proposal comments on Grill can receive rewards when they are liked**!

Check out the [active proposals](https://grillapp.net/c/opengov) on Grill and leave some feedback. Are you AYE or NAY?

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Introducing OpenGov On Grill: The Final Step Of OpenComm

If you are a creator on Grill, and want some more eyeballs, look no further than the new [Show Yourself](https://grillapp.net/c/featured/show-yourself-138076) chat!

This chat is a way for less visible creators to improve their chances at getting seen and followed, which will have lasting benefits when it comes to making it high up on the Hot Posts tab!

Keep in mind that [Show Yourself](https://grillapp.net/c/featured/show-yourself-138076) is designed for high quality posts, and users may be moderated if they simply share every single one of their posts in the chat. Let’s keep it quality!

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Show Yourself: Display Your Best Grill Content!

April saw UX updates, new features, and more community tools released on Grill. Let’s take a look!

## **Login Flow & Energy Updates**

Last month had two [UX updates](https://grillapp.net/@subsocial/updates-to-grill-s-login-flow-123352?ref=4779) related to user accounts. First, the “Connect via Polkadot” option has been returned to the front of the login flow, making it clear and easy for Polkadot users to log into Grill. Second, Polkadot users will now spend energy from their main account, allowing them to properly view and manage their energy balances at the [Energy Station](https://grillapp.net/energy).

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/CU47skG0-QPCFrYEnWTR7KH9pqRYk3zYRvffieHSlVN7skHsrfMZU_FBlsD8lI3fLoS5ECdtqm5Vua3LSpCjxyCErhc-A_cFP5ZTLLqaYHL_LuFXHLPz0BmrxNBQRbdHdss8MovoDOPOLDaMsUhznjU)

## **Creator Chats**

Creators can now [set up a chat](https://grillapp.net/@subsocial/create-your-own-creator-chat-community-132006?ref=4779) in their space, providing a great place to stay in touch with their communities, and increase interaction. Head over to your space to create your chat, and let your community members know!

## **OpenGov On Grill**

Marking the final feature of [Polkadot Referenda #119](https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referenda/119), Grill now supports Polkadot’s OpenGov system! Users can [view proposals](https://grillapp.net/c/opengov) and comments, see voting information, and more.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/u7NP6q9yaVtZwSju0EbSy7vVUEPgHVt8hhdOTjc5_qkRcH2DsHWAjjmX5CR0KAq_sfOiWaCDMGFC0FPlm1pwsLrOAGcPGz9SDnCImKC_ZfPNjokbW7aaBCWjXXH-r6GFNMYFQS7lNAtYY2-9JRrZtlc)

## **Show Yourself**

A new featured chat was launched on Grill to provide new creators with another way to get more eyeballs on their content! The “[Show Yourself](https://grillapp.net/c/featured/show-yourself-138076)” chat is dedicated to high quality posts, helping great creators rise up the Hot Posts ranking.

---

Progress on Grill and Subsocial continues, but what UX improvements would you like to see next?

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April 2024 In Review

Subsocial has launched its new [explorer](https://explorer.subsocial.network/) thanks to Statescan!

Now you can check your transaction history, view other accounts, see balances and more.

Thanks to the team at OpenSquare for developing the open-source explorer for Polkadot blockchains!

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Subsocial's New Block Explorer!

*TL;DR: Subsocial’s staking system aims to sustainably reward active users and creators for growing the network. In order to further achieve this goal,* ***staking rewards will be increased by 50%*** *, while the Lazy Staking system will be removed. Active Staking will be upgraded and renamed to Content Staking. With these changes, users will need to lock a* ***minimum of 2,000 SUB*** *(up from 100) in order to be able to like posts. Liking recent posts will continue to generate rewards for both the creator and the liker. Users that only lazy staked in the past will now have the opportunity to earn even more than they were before, simply by using the platform.*

*The Content Staking upgrade is expected to release tomorrow, on Friday, February 2nd. Tune in to tomorrow’s* [*AMA*](https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1nAKEanAagyKL) *to learn more.*

---

## Retrospective

Towards the end of October, Subsocial received an upgrade, adding the beta for the innovative Creator Staking system (also known as “Lazy Staking”), inspired by Astar’s Dapp Staking model. With Lazy Staking, SUB holders could stake their SUB to Registered Creators, and receive more SUB in return. Creators would also receive SUB rewards based on how many tokens were staked to them.

In theory, the best creators would get lots of SUB rewards in exchange for producing good content on Subsocial and helping to grow the network.

In practice, this system did not function as well as it could have. A number of creators remained inactive, while still earning rewards, and most token holders still did not actively engage on the network. For a normal blogging site, that may be fine, but Subsocial is a full social network, and it needs back-and-forth engagement.

Following the initial results of Lazy Staking, the Active Staking system launched in alpha in early January. Active Stakers could increase their Lazy Staking rewards by liking recent posts on Subsocial, and the authors of those posts would also receive rewards.

Network [activity](https://polkaverse.com/stats) immediately skyrocketed, igniting a frenzy of new creators posting, and users engaging. Community engagement has never been higher, and Subsocial’s content and user base is blossoming like never before.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/robo1SvoWHxDo8hxZe6z8y02uLcdsgtXfz7Lmo-rKvOkSvk3Cpjywsr6iY5o3NYQRaP0pfmwuB0i9ZeWb-zNYihhgh-UQR3dDap3Ny_T4yksggDZ7ec-RxaCKTD_ki0HZaGerIovu6hWEj45Lx7n1ps)

## Moving Forward

Comparing Lazy Staking and Active Staking, there is a clear winner. However, the locking mechanism of Lazy Staking is still good for the network, which leads us to the new system, simply named **Content Staking**.

**In the new design, users will need to lock their SUB tokens, which will provide no rewards, but will allow access to join the Content Staking system, where they can like posts and receive rewards. Any creators looking to join the network and start earning are free to begin posting, and when their posts are liked, they will receive SUB!**

As Lazy Staking rewards are disappearing, **Content Staking rewards will increase by 50%**, further rewarding active creators and users. This update should prove to be especially beneficial for creators with small audiences, as the likes on their posts will matter even more!

The Content Staking system is expected to go live tomorrow, Friday, February 2nd. For most users, nothing will change, other than rewards increasing. **Users that already have their tokens locked in Lazy Staking do not need to do anything** \- your tokens will be migrated to the new lock system and you will remain eligible for Content Staking. You can unlock your tokens at any time, though you will still need to wait for the unlocking period.

With Subsocial entering a new era, make sure you take part! Whether you are a creator, a reply guy, or even just a lurker, now is the perfect time to get some SUB, lock it, and start earning rewards by helping Subsocial to grow.

Start staking, start liking, start connecting, and we’ll see you on-chain!

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Say Goodbye To Lazy & Active Staking, And Hello To Content Staking

In terms of activity, January has been Subsocial’s biggest month ever! With the release of Active Staking, network activity took off like a rocket, as users scrambled to start monetizing their content. Let’s dive in!

## **Active Staking**

Following the release of Lazy Staking at the end of October, [Active Staking](https://polkaverse.com/@subsocial/get-rewarded-for-your-network-activity-with-subsocial-s-new-40757) launched on January 10th, allowing stakers to increase their rewards by engaging with content on Subsocial, and providing rewards to authors for creating great content. 

The effects so far have been amazing! Average daily activity is way up, around 50x or more, with over 410,000 SUB distributed as rewards so far.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ZMCECfRr4Fa2lvwfpPcZxdBFC_HcW16Ohqryr8lI0-RA-ch2hhQOybv97uaR7VsVh-lg9FYvsEdiys5EJmf8nEBBhlJJuzbGpjCZeqwlT7TpbPu-vCaWaGs_BTX7k5Gf8lnTvsLrtSzII8hu8Hibbns)

The top three most liked spaces are [The Kusamarian](https://polkaverse.com/@thekus), [Polkadot Insider](https://polkaverse.com/11157), and[ Filippo](https://polkaverse.com/@filippoweb3), and PolkaVerse has seen a 350% spike in new users!

## **Comments**

Users have even been earning SUB for their comments! Integrated comments were added back to PolkaVerse, and because comments count as posts on-chain, they are eligible for liking as well. 

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/J1LbmPvhjdMAlhFMBb0YFsy-TnANsKs2jg-yQMAreJaNrIGa452CveGsSpvC8SR6TFiYoY7rEUg2rSGqBnCVec28607lG9Ffz9lCT1xL8hKWRTu6JUT97GjQ_2ipEwTBXspbtd0KdlABoXuM55LTZd8)

Lots of users have been receiving SUB for their thoughtful comments, so jump into some discussions and share your thoughts!

## **Active Staking Dashboard With Staker & Creator Leaderboards**

Users can now get a feel for where they stand in the [rankings](https://polkaverse.com/leaderboard) of Stakers and Creators, as well as see some of their stats, such as how many creators they’ve supported, how many likes their own posts have received, and a history of their Active Staking rewards.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ASla0L8oZYosuDE_OdS2c1GUAjajvaM8Y3SnjECaet0vyk6SgNgC_cPaP_T01RQXIZFRzWIU6XJO7zVkmkIAIcQVh0D7sE2o3BnutPZwA-jQvNdstu-Xmr1NewYOtKbyo8ob3TGZ7tdhstkzQp2PAvs)

See where you stand on the leaderboards, and make your way to the top!

## **MEXC Partnership**

Subsocial [partnered with MEXC](https://twitter.com/MEXC%5FOfficial/status/1750491650303094997?s=20) to help make SUB available on their exchange, improving the distribution and accessibility of the token. With this, it’s now easier than ever for people to join the Subsocial community and the Creator Economy revolution that’s taking place on-chain!

## **Integration With Gleev**

PolkaVerse added support for videos from Gleev, a video sharing application built on the Joystream network. Now, users can embed videos from Gleev into their posts on Subsocial, providing a truly decentralized experience, compared to posting videos from YouTube or other centralized platforms.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Y6_WCoJI5-P4KJ-j5jEQchqp5l6BGacrUOnxu-1Q1mmA3MbjJeI4UgID9-OWLlBCdSV-F67nW-SoaRSs-WsQdsTJWhKA2Yf5yDNx7H7bnAUdZKd11aadJagCUCO51JAIr63M7UZcPGDJF3bKKJN4BC0)

## **Sub.ID Adds Transaction Histories**

As part of Polkadot Treasury Proposal #250, [Sub.ID](http://Sub.ID) now supports transaction histories for Subsocial, with more chains and transaction types on the way.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/JEQtFWtZZPsTIW8I4LBDMshxDxhOm9PX5N12EKqiewnoOk3sPJr5ZgyI-bfCaGsXHgKzcD1gjMzhDGBvsdTwvtC6d79L6zSQmJSsXodRK7WBYAe7MecT-cf14ll4v_9CoeYJ_caftpyZqLFSb86ev6o)

## **Discussing SocialFi On Polkadot**

The official Polkadot account on X held a [space](https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1ypKdkjwRZLxW?s=20) with Subsocial and a few other teams, where we discussed the future of social media, music, entertainment & the metaverse.

---

Things really started to heat up for Subsocial in January, between the massive activity growth and MEXC partnership, and February is looking equally promising! Thank you for being part of the Subsocial community, and we’ll see you on-chain!

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January 2024 In Review

Social networks thrive on network effects, driven by users engaging with each other in the form of likes, comments, shares, group publications, and more. So far, Content Staking has caused a huge surge in activity on Subsocial, starting with an increase in posts and likes, and continuing on to comments once those could be rewarded as well.

However, more is needed to truly amplify network effects and kickstart a flywheel of growth and activity, which is why the Content Staking system now features a Reward Splitting mechanism.

## **Reward Splitting**

Let’s imagine Alice has a space on Subsocial with 10 million followers. Every post in that space will get a ton of views, likes, comments, and rewards — it’s a pretty valuable space. Alice let’s Bob post his newest article in her space, helping him gain exposure on the network, and he of course receives lots of rewards. But shouldn’t Alice get rewarded too?

With Reward Splitting, rewards can now be split between a number of accounts, depending on a few factors.

**Posts**: Rewards for posts are now split 70/30, with the author of each post receiving 70% of the rewards, and the owner of the space that it was posted in receiving 30% of the rewards. If Charlie posts in his own space, he will still receive 100% of the rewards. 

This change can help pave the way for community publications to spring up, with their own treasury funded from the 20% reward split, and may result in creators on the platform talking with each other more, figuring out how they can work together in a mutually beneficial way.

**Comments**: Rewards for comments are now split 70/30, with the author of each comment receiving 70% of the rewards, and the author of the original post receiving 30% of the rewards. If Danielle comments below her own post, she will still receive 100% of the rewards.

Creators will now be further rewarded for creating high engagement posts, which commenters will also continue to benefit from. A back-and-forth exchange in the comments section can prove to be fruitful for everyone involved!

**Shares**: Rewards for shared posts are now split 50/50, with the sharer receiving 50% of the rewards, and the author of the original post receiving 50% of the rewards.

Numerous platforms like X and Tumblr have showcased the positive effects of users sharing content from others with their own spin added on. With the generous 50/50 split on sharing, expect to see lots of content getting amplified with commentary!

## **The Impact**

 So how does this impact you as a user?

If you are a creator, you can expect to see increased rewards, as you get SUB for every comment on your posts, or share of your posts, that get liked. If you’re a classic reply guy, you can expect to see some more high engagement posts in the future, giving you more chances to have your comments seen. If you love amplifying great content from others and adding commentary, start sharing high engagement posts and see what happens!

Additionally, any community groups that have been looking to set up a community space with a treasury can do so! Simply set the space to allow all followers to post, or add specific accounts as Editors, so they can post in the space. This truly marks the first step of Community DAOs on Subsocial!

---

As always, Subsocial continues to evolve and experiment, pushing the boundaries of SocialFi in Web3\. What do you think about Reward Splitting? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and start making use of this latest update to maximize your rewards. We’ll see you on-chain!

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Initiating A Flywheel Of Network Effects With Reward Splitting

While PolkaVerse’s Featured Posts tab is great for manually highlighting verified creators and high quality content, it is not scalable. Already we are reaching a point where there is simply too much content on Subsocial for any one person to curate, which is why the Hot Posts algorithm has been developed.

Similar to Reddit, the [Hot Posts tab](https://polkaverse.com/?tab=posts&type=hot&date=week) will provide increased visibility for posts that get lots of likes and engagement, enabling the best content to rise to the top.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/ezu-vlocybHlylfzqCN92ew1nrSgWRAPsIjquBBLtCVxEIHmID1lf7xuLfVttLxawLbrqRGNNRmFEv1pyFZBIQCS5XCbLdhxoTZQrHDZ0ls7aZ7jzxU8xPaYBA00SNMu0XKyLkt0VRTleqTcrZ2_oEE)

## **The Hot Posts Algorithm**

You can find the full details [here](https://docs.subsocial.network/docs/basics/polkaverse/hot-posts/), but in short:

* Posts have an initial rating based on the amount of SUB the creator has locked
* Ratings increase when posts get engagement and earn rewards
* Posts lose 10% of their rating per day for the first week

With this algorithm, popular posts will rise to the top and get more eyeballs on them, allowing for even more rewards and engagement. It will be a time-limited positive feedback loop to reward great creators! As post ratings only decay for the first week, it will be possible to establish a leaderboard of “All-Time Top Posts” based on their ratings in the future.

Make sure to explore the All Posts tab to discover new creators, and like content that you enjoy to help it rise to the top of the [Hot Posts](https://polkaverse.com/?tab=posts&type=hot&date=week). More eyes on those posts means more rewards for those creators, so do your part to support them in every way you can!

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The New Hot Posts Tab Is Heating Things Up!

There is currently a disconnect between where a large amount of the discussion around Polkadot’s direction takes place, and where we actually decide Polkadot’s direction, as the Polkadot Forum is totally separate from both Polkassembly and Subsquare.

Additionally, both Polkassembly and Subsquare have a forum-like section, for hosting discussions before they turn into proposals. This seems redundant and is not necessarily a good separation, on top of further segmenting traffic and eyeballs.

The Subsocial team is thinking to build an integrated “Polkadot Management” application, covering the ecosystem’s need for a location for structured async discussions, proposals, and direction management. This application would leverage our UX innovations, providing a seamless Web2 experience, while improving traffic for important topics and discussions, and allowing them to more easily morph into on-chain results.

Our team is well known for efficient, high quality shipping, and we know we can produce an excellent management platform for Polkadot (not just limited to the relay chain), founded on the true Web3 ideals of transparency and open data, unlike existing governance platforms, while also adding additional utility in the form of forum functionality.

Please share your thoughts with us about this idea. Would you migrate to it from the Polkadot forum and/or Polkassembly/Subsquare, and/or submit your governance and treasury proposals though it in a streamlined manner?

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A Unified Forum & Governance Portal

Last month was a busy one for [PolkaVerse](https://polkaverse.com/), Subsocial’s #1 application, as it got lots of upgrades focused on improving network activity and the creator experience.

## **Content Staking**

As Subsocial continues to evolve, the previous Creator and Lazy Staking systems were replaced by Content Staking. To take part in Content Staking, users need to lock at least 2,000 SUB, enabling them to earn rewards for liking posts, or having their posts and comments liked by others. Check out the[ full announcement](https://polkaverse.com/@subsocial/say-goodbye-to-lazy-and-active-staking-and-hello-to-content-50488) to get all of the details.

## **Reward Splitting**

With the goal of further boosting network growth, rewards from Content Staking began getting split between all relevant parties. For example, the rewards given to a great comment are split, with 70% of the rewards going to the writer of the comment, and 30% going to the author of the post that the comment was made under. After all, without that post, there wouldn’t be any comments. To see all of the splits, read the[ original announcement](https://polkaverse.com/@subsocial/initiating-a-flywheel-of-network-effects-with-reward-62208) or the Reward Splitting section of the[ docs page](https://docs.subsocial.network/docs/basics/content-staking/content-staking).

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/l8aGp5vDYR9zO5VfyV0-CeFVNgOuf796r_tCFz1wwedMMjXYtajyba2kNR_YdmqEeIxFqwDXC-mIlU0RligJAKimvW52SW4q8HXAwkuw7RqcC7feDinCqm3MbthQphKX5-53j5VwnvWyldPYAhCOsas)

## **Community Highlights**

The Subsocial team created a new featured space named[ Community Highlights](https://polkaverse.com/1244). When we find great posts on Subsocial from new creators, we share them into this space, providing those posts and their creators with extra visibility and a better chance at improved rewards!

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/6uQMLyZzke1bdxJMGvIaH3Tr0C_UyV6JxQVIGpYsLcPgKkBXkcaFCOMDMu5Fu8EjnZ1zTJIAZgnInJrSJt1m93FEH1enx3AplJGprMYRt4nYD-paiEslEyWK6xvZfPa5-gK6M6b3N-e2TAaybkyOUw4)

## **Hot Posts**

In addition to the Featured Posts tab, the[ Hot Posts](https://polkaverse.com/@subsocial/the-new-hot-posts-tab-is-heating-things-up-64687) tab uses a new algorithm to show posts that have been getting a lot of engagement recently. This way, organic content can rise to the top naturally!

## **Subsocial Space On X**

We held a[ space on X](https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1nAKEanAagyKL) to discuss Content Staking, Subsocial’s growth and future plans, and a lot more! Give it a listen to hear from our founder and CEO Alex Siman about our latest updates and upcoming releases.

## **Sub.ID PnL Release**

[Sub.ID](http://Sub.ID) received another[ update](https://twitter.com/SubIDapp/status/1755613886173282692), showing the daily change in price and value for tokens and portfolio balances. In the future, this may be expanded to include historical data!

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Sh_Q2fCr18BY4tPXtsStbO3PEMz0ky2CBVIq32OofuGD7OrGbUIsaUvMC24pFWYZrjbi6n3jQs65I3mqKNDNJdAUbg4-qpxxZQ90zdGAp4_i9ZquhJXZJoWINkxJHKOeXnoQKuQoJuUJ44tDYJjQpJc)

February saw lots of improvements to the creator experience on PolkaVerse, along with continued growth as the network matures. March will have some big releases, so stay tuned, and we’ll see you on-chain!

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February 2024 In Review

Adventurers! In preparation for the upcoming perilous expeditions to The Sand Tower, Caliph Noora is advising everyone to begin gathering herbs and preparing powerful potions and tinctures via alchemy.

## **Herbalism**

*Herbalism involves the art of identifying and gathering various plants, from common to rare species. This practice demands knowledge of plant habitats and growth. Herbalism pairs well with alchemy, turning plants into potent potions or poisons. Thus, expert plant selection is essential, as it can mean life or death.*

*![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/eIeYsDs9LTHGPR1EtHPuBE3iwEO6rvdWP1uTgHeAn-Qwi0Mg9ybJlrfph3KMG7WCL0nhlR3EDUAtTcIeEyKgW4bb56ZYFHU3_hbCgut5Eipijpw0kAeUfYAqmFHNziX_kZ2otyiZAXLGHPr9UUBOr5s)*

Plenty of herbs can be found in the wilds around Trakan, such as Glade Grass and Mirage Sprouts. Arm yourself with some quenching Oasis Water, and some rations if ye be gone long, and make sure to consult your map! Be warned, some herbs may lead to swift dehydration and death if smoked in the desert.

## **Alchemy**

*Alchemy is the skillful practice of transforming natural materials, especially plants, into powerful potions and tinctures. Experts in alchemy are able to blend these elements to create remedies that can heal wounds and cure diseases, or conversely, concoct deadly poisons. Their deep knowledge of materials is key to producing effects that can greatly impact any situation, making alchemy a vital and respected art.*

*![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/qAtm3UFMgNghkcWJEtu9q-y9SPA79UvsxXGlr6Gca-AGaRSaTa5pZ62bJKTEt1WiPMQ5LPwE9HI_dot2HMXpCDcboY7y2GBl-0Fo6sewipc6YZu5TtESq7CCrXbZnNOYAhrysvM1iH3geBVIAuP0nk4)*

Essential to any serious expedition, potions and tinctures unlock powerful effects that will decrease your chance of death or dismemberment. Ensure your water barrels are full and your herbs are gathered, and start brewing!

Expeditions to excavate The Sand Tower are scheduled to begin soon, and the city needs all able-bodied adventurers at the ready, with potions - no exceptions! If you don’t craft your own, you will have to check the marketplace in a few days, or stay here, giving up on combat experience, glory, and honor. Be prepared!

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Herbalism, Alchemy, Potions and Tinctures: Prepare for Your Expedition!

Incremental releases have been steadily moving us towards the full release of Subsocial’s super-app, which will combine all of Subsocial’s functionality into one seamless user experience. Today marks the next step of the Subsocial ecosystem, with the initial launch of GrillApp (previously code-named FanFair). The popular Web3 chat application [Grill.chat](http://Grill.chat) is migrating to [GrillApp.net](http://GrillApp.net), along with the SUB locking management system from [Sub.ID](http://Sub.ID), in preparation for everything to be combined in the upcoming super-app.

Additionally, PolkaVerse is being tied into GrillApp.net, in order to leverage its advanced login functionality. As more creators and users onboard to PolkaVerse, they deserve the full range of options, such as logging in via X or Metamask. Pretty soon, the full functionality of PolkaVerse will be merged into [GrillApp.net](http://GrillApp.net), turning it into the Subsocial super-app!

### **GrillApp**

The launch of GrillApp marks the beginning of Subsocial’s feature consolidation into a unified platform. 

[Grill.chat](http://Grill.chat) as it stands today will remain unchanged; it will just live under the [GrillApp.net](http://GrillApp.net) domain. The page for locking SUB in the Content Staking system will be moved from [Sub.ID](http://Sub.ID) to GrillApp, forming the first step for having all of Subsocial’s functionality in one place. We are looking forward to seeing the UX of the Subsocial ecosystem improve as everything links together better than ever before!

As the ecosystem prepares to onboard many more users and creators, it is vitally important that they receive the smoothest introduction possible, which means allowing new users to log in with their wallet of choice, or with their X account. While this has not been possible with PolkaVerse’s previously outdated tech, by merging the PolkaVerse platform into GrillApp, it gains access to our up-to-date login flow. Following this merge, everyone can now log in and start posting with their Polkadot or EVM wallets, or X account!

Now, to keep posting, sign in on [GrillApp.net](http://GrillApp.net) and enjoy the new and improved log-in flow!

The final piece of the migration is related to a branding improvement. PolkaVerse supports and encourages all types of content, however, its brand specifically reinforces Polkadot-related content. By dissociating the platform from the Polkadot brand, we hope to see other types of content blossom on the platform as well. Of course, we remain dedicated to building in the Polkadot ecosystem, and love all of our Polkadot-focused content creators!

At the heart of this progressive move to GrillApp is the vision of a unified Subsocial, with all of the functionality available on one platform, providing users with a seamless experience. In essence, GrillApp represents more than just a platform — it embodies a vision of the next era of Subsocial, an era of simplicity, and growth.

In the coming weeks, [GrillApp.net](http://GrillApp.net) will continue receiving upgrades, including a sleek new UI for viewing posts, creator profiles, chats, and more. Let us know what you think about GrillApp, and we’ll see you on-chain!

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Fireworks and Fun: GrillApp.net Launches, Upgrading Content Staking & PolkaVerse's UX!

Because Subsocial is an open and permissionless platform, anyone is free to build applications on top of it, and applications are free to do whatever they want, such as moderate undesirable content. For example, an app focused on dogs probably would not show pictures of cats, or could at the very least not allow them to qualify for Content Staking on that application. Of course, the cats would still be on Subsocial, and available to be liked, but just not on that particular dog-focused application.

![](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/E1P8qTO5TpA8bHJBcKSKVOvxw49GPkP5DRouC4WEfm7zR19ppD1A2UkhNkwIaFLZLxr4OjB4cEmrJP487S3KAg7h4lKoj73b9bIIXU3Or46OzsJHGIPE8w1bjhxCoyLAv-_2fL1FcfsTQ16wQbb2I3E)

This fact becomes extra important as applications start developing algorithms that factor in monetization methods. It makes sense that posts that earn a lot from Content Staking are likely high quality, and should receive more eyeballs. With that in mind, it seems reasonable to “demonetize” low quality content.

“Low quality content” is subjective of course, and as previously mentioned, all content will still be available on-chain. Applications are free to show or hide any content they like, and enable or disable any monetization features whenever they want. As Subsocial is a transparent ecosystem with open and accessible data, anyone is free to build alternative applications to display any content and allow monetization features.

With all of this in mind, moderation on Subsocial is no longer limited to just visibility, but also to monetization, giving application developers a wider range of tools to properly moderate their platforms.

Grill maintains a fairly liberal [moderation policy](https://grillapp.net/legal/content-policy). In general, anything goes, except for NSFW or violent content. Users that are breaking the content policy may have their content demonetized or hidden from Grill. As always, developers are encouraged to build alternative UIs with different flavors and user experiences, to aid in decentralizing the Subsocial ecosystem!

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Content Quality, Monetization, & Moderation On Subsocial

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Subsocial

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Evrloot

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Yung Beef 4.2

If you are a creator on Grill, and want some more eyeballs, look no further than the new Show Yourself chat!

This chat is a way for less visible creators to improve their chances at getting seen and followed, which will have lasting benefits when it comes to making it high up on the Hot Posts...

Adventurers! In preparation for the upcoming perilous expeditions to The Sand Tower, Caliph Noora is advising everyone to begin gathering herbs and preparing powerful potions and tinctures via alchemy.

Herbalism

Herbalism involves the art of identifying and gathering various plants, from common...

While PolkaVerse’s Featured Posts tab is great for manually highlighting verified creators and high quality content, it is not scalable. Already we are reaching a point where there is simply too much content on Subsocial for any one person to curate, which is why the Hot Posts algorithm has been...

We’ve been cooking up some nice updates to Grill to improve functionality, quality of life, and ease of use. Here are the most recent four:

Embeds



Grill now supports embedding links from X, YouTube, Joystream, and SoundCloud! Sharing content into Web3 has never been easier, and provides yet...

Incremental releases have been steadily moving us towards the full release of Subsocial’s super-app, which will combine all of Subsocial’s functionality into one seamless user experience. Today marks the next step of the Subsocial ecosystem, with the initial launch of GrillApp (previously...

TL;DR: Subsocial’s staking system aims to sustainably reward active users and creators for growing the network. In order to further achieve this goal, staking rewards will be increased by 50% , while the Lazy Staking system will be removed. Active Staking will be upgraded and renamed to Content...

Welcome to the dark and dangerous world of Estra, adventurer.

Because Subsocial is an open and permissionless platform, anyone is free to build applications on top of it, and applications are free to do whatever they want, such as moderate undesirable content. For example, an app focused on dogs probably would not show pictures of cats, or could at the very...

April saw UX updates, new features, and more community tools released on Grill. Let’s take a look!

Login Flow & Energy Updates

Last month had two UX updates related to user accounts. First, the “Connect via Polkadot” option has been returned to the front of the login flow, making it clear and...

The “Connect via Polkadot” login option has been returned to the main page of the login modal, along with some changes for users choosing to login with their Polkadot wallet.

Grill uses proxy accounts to remove the constant confirmation pop-ups (which also enables logins via X and Google...

In terms of activity, January has been Subsocial’s biggest month ever! With the release of Active Staking, network activity took off like a rocket, as users scrambled to start monetizing their content. Let’s dive in!

Active Staking

Following the release of Lazy Staking at the end of October...

Governance proposals on Polkadot can now be viewed and discussed on Grill’s OpenGov page!

Polkadot’s Open Communication Layer, built on Subsocial, has finally been completed, with the release of support for OpenGov on Grill. This comes as the final feature outlined in Polkadot Referendum #119...

Creators can now create chats for their profile (main) space, allowing them to further engage with their communities!

On the mission to transform Grill into an all-in-one social and community platform, Grill’s chat functionality is being increasingly integrated into the social networking side of...

There is currently a disconnect between where a large amount of the discussion around Polkadot’s direction takes place, and where we actually decide Polkadot’s direction, as the Polkadot Forum is totally separate from both Polkassembly and Subsquare.

Additionally, both Polkassembly and Subsquare...

Last month saw the launch of Subsocial’s super-app! Launched as Grill, the existing Grill.chat and PolkaVerse apps were both combined into one, with some fiery branding. Let’s take a look at that and more in our March 2024 recap.

Apillon Integrates Grill.chat

Apillon, a Web3 development...

Content Lead at Subsocial, ChaosDAO Co-Founder

Last month was a busy one for PolkaVerse, Subsocial’s #1 application, as it got lots of upgrades focused on improving network activity and the creator experience.

Content Staking

As Subsocial continues to evolve, the previous Creator and Lazy Staking systems were replaced by Content Staking. To...

Social networks thrive on network effects, driven by users engaging with each other in the form of likes, comments, shares, group publications, and more. So far, Content Staking has caused a huge surge in activity on Subsocial, starting with an increase in posts and likes, and continuing on to...

Subsocial has launched its new explorer thanks to Statescan!

Now you can check your transaction history, view other accounts, see balances and more.

Thanks to the team at OpenSquare for developing the open-source explorer for Polkadot blockchains!

Subsocial is an open platform that allows for the integration of user-friendly Web3 social features into existing applications, or the creation of brand new socially-powered apps from the ground up. In fact, Subsocial's innovative UX solutions make using Web3 so simple, even your grandma can use...

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