The issue of loneliness has become prevalent in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the isolation and deteriorating relationships take a toll on adults. As a result, the question arises: could Web3 play a role in reversing this trend and promote real-world connections? The innovative project PairedWorld, developed by health experts and technologists from Unpaired, intends to explore this possibility by leveraging the Web3 framework and Ethereum-based tokens to foster meaningful human bonds and interactions.
According to Unpaired co-founder and CEO Raluca Cherciu, the key to happiness lies in good relationships, and PairedWorld aims to nurture these connections by utilizing social tokens. The project was unveiled at the Non-Fungible Conference in Lisbon, backed by supporters such as Horizen Lab Ventures and NFT Studios. PairedWorld hopes to provide value to existing communities without trying to establish a new one and ultimately create an alliance of multiple communities.
Users from diverse NFT communities can join PairedWorld, receiving a Soulbound token called SOUL that acts as a reputation signal in the ecosystem. The longer users hold their NFT and actively participate in the community, the more ticket tokens they receive, granting access to real-world events or enabling them to create their own. With users rewarded with PAIRED tokens for attending events, these incentives provide an additional layer to the project.
PairedWorld has collaborated with top neuroscientists and psychologists to ensure they motivate the “right behavior.” The company’s focus lies in the real world for now, and Cherciu envisions initiatives rewarding online community activities in future. She believes that tokens can bring significant benefits to individuals in the digital world, stating, “no one should really feel alone in this vast digital world.”
While there’s evidence to support PairedWorld’s broader objectives, such as the US Surgeon General’s study on loneliness and isolation and Harvard University’s findings on the importance of close relationships, skepticism about another token in the Web3 realm remains. Crypto enthusiasts may question if PairedWorld can genuinely contribute to social interactions or simply encourage tokenization in an already saturated market.
However, PairedWorld believes it can harness emerging technology for positive social impact and steer people towards more profound connections. Cherciu asserts that by addressing the paradox of technology’s contribution to isolation, PairedWorld can bring positive change to the lives of individuals and communities worldwide. In conclusion, the concept of incentivizing human connections through web technology offers a unique perspective on combating loneliness, but only time will tell if this approach can produce the desired results.
Source: Decrypt
