The current landscape of social networks, despite offering the benefits of real-time information and global connectivity, have inadvertently produced negative externalities that are contributing to societal harm. The predominant model of these networks, fueled by advertising revenue, is engineered to capture and retain user attention by any means necessary. This approach has led to what is often termed the 'outrage economy' – a system where provocation and controversy are leveraged to engage users. Issues such as censorship and interference in elections have also become prominent concerns, defining much of the contemporary discourse around social media. These platforms have increasingly become arenas for the proliferation of disinformation, bot-driven propaganda, and various scams, all contributing to a reduction in the cognitive attention span of society. The nature of information dissemination on these networks often lacks depth and context, leading to a browsing experience that is fragmented and superficial, rather than one that fosters understanding and critical thinking.

ZERO enables the creation of new social media systems that remove the reliance of advertising and align incentives between stakeholders (such as content creators, consumers and developers). Censorship can be eliminated at the level of code and infrastructure by distributing data between ZODES. Information can be contextualize based on shared-context, affinity, and reputation, using systems such as ZNS, ZBI, ZXP and ZDAO. Disinformation can be reduced through the introduction of novel consensus, reputation and coordination systems. Identity mechanisms can be constructed to cryptographically verify the origin, creator and legitimacy of digital content.

In this context, ZERO emerges as a platform that facilitates the creation of novel social media systems. These systems are distinct in that they eschew the traditional reliance on advertising, thereby realigning the incentives among all stakeholders, including content creators, consumers, and developers. Through ZERO, the potential for censorship can be substantially mitigated at the infrastructural and code level by distributing data across ZODES (ZERO Operational Decentralized Environments).

Furthermore, ZERO offers protocols such as ZNS (ZERO Name Service), ZBI (ZERO Basic Income), ZXP (ZERO Experience Points), and ZDAO (ZERO Decentralized Autonomous Organization) to enable contextualization of information. This contextualization is based on shared contexts, affinities, and reputations, presenting a more nuanced and meaningful information landscape. In addition, the introduction of novel consensus mechanisms, reputation systems, and coordination systems can play a pivotal role in reducing the spread of disinformation. Moreover, ZERO's identity mechanisms are designed to provide cryptographic verification for the origin, creator, and legitimacy of digital content, further enhancing the integrity and trustworthiness of information within these new social networks.