Read Write Own

Chris Dixon nails it with this visual breakdown: the internet has evolved from reading to writing to owning.

In the image, you see three network types: protocol (email-style), corporate (like YouTube), and blockchain (community-owned). That last one changes everything.

Why this visual hits hard

• Uses simple shapes to explain complex systems
• Creates an “aha” moment about how control shifts online
• Clarifies why blockchain isn’t just tech hype—it’s structural change
• Turns abstract ideas into something anyone can sketch on a napkin

Real examples

• Read: Yahoo or Netscape websites
• Read-Write: YouTube and Facebook, where users create but companies profit
• Read-Write-Own: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DAOs, where users own parts of the network they help build