The 'subscribe' behavior, within the SWORMBS framework, represents a verifiable digital agreement to receive ongoing access to content, services, or membership benefits, often on a recurring basis. This extends beyond traditional media subscriptions to include joining a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) for voting rights, subscribing to a verifiable data stream, or becoming a member of a token-gated community.
This license provides access to the semantic schema and underlying data models that define and track 'subscribe' interactions across various Web3 protocols and decentralized applications. It enables systems to understand, categorize, and verify the intent, terms, and ongoing nature of subscription actions in a machine-readable format.
"Subscribing" traditionally meant receiving physical periodicals, perhaps a weekly newspaper delivered to our door here in Montevarchi. The 3rd Industrial Revolution expanded it to digital newsletters. But the 4IR and the digital era have radically re-packaged "subscribing" as the dominant model for accessing software, services, and digital communities, profoundly altering our relationship with consumption and belonging.
In the Web 2.0 era, the "packaging" for "subscribing" expanded to include email newsletters and early Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) models. This meant recurring payments for digital content or software access, often mimicking the predictable structure of print subscriptions. Human behavior during this period involved appreciating the convenience of digital delivery and the ability to trial new software before committing to large purchases. It also fostered engagement with early digital communities via forums or email lists.
Today, the digital "packaging" of "subscribing" is central to the entire digital economy. It applies to everything from streaming services like Netflix, to essential cloud computing infrastructure, to AI tools, and even exclusive access to online content creators through platforms like Patreon. "Subscribing" often means paying for continuous access and benefits within a digital ecosystem, rather than owning a one-time product.
The future of "subscribing" on the decentralized web takes this a step further, integrating with blockchain technology. Access to content, services, or even membership in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) can be "token-gated" – meaning holding a specific NFT or cryptocurrency token in your wallet grants you verifiable access. This "packaging" shifts control from a central platform to the user's digital wallet and the smart contract governing access. Behaviorally, this cultivates a preference for access over ownership and a growing comfort with digital, verifiable credentials.
The transformation of "subscribing" has been fundamental. It has moved from a niche concept to the dominant mode of consumption and community engagement in the digital age. It shapes our behaviors around access, ongoing relationships with digital providers, and how we define our digital identities. Placing these insights on an IPFS node ensures that this economic and behavioral transformation is immutably documented, providing a permanent record of our evolving digital relationships.