📌 Table of Contents
- What Are Paid Notes?
- The Evolution: From Flash News to Paid Notes
- Historical Context: The Flash News & Uncensored Notes System
- How the Old System Worked
- Current Paid Notes System
- How to Publish Paid Notes
- Where to Find Paid Notes
- Future Outlook
- FAQ
What Are Paid Notes?
Paid Notes is YakiHonne's premium content feature that allows creators to publish short-form notes that appear in a dedicated feed on the home page. By paying a small fee in sats (Bitcoin's smallest unit), creators can ensure their content gets visibility in the Paid Notes feed, reaching YakiHonne's active user base.
Key Features of Current Paid Notes:
✅ Pay-to-Publish Model: Pay sats to publish your note to the Paid Notes feed
✅ Guaranteed Visibility: Appears in the dedicated Paid Notes section on the home page
✅ Chronological Display: Notes are displayed in order of publication
✅ Short-Form Content: Perfect for announcements, updates, breaking news, or quick takes
✅ Nostr-Native: Published as Nostr events, maintaining decentralization
The Evolution: From Flash News to Paid Notes
The feature we now know as Paid Notes has an interesting history. Originally launched as "Flash News," it was part of a more ambitious system that combined paid publishing with community-driven fact-checking.
Timeline:
Phase 1 (Original): Flash News + Uncensored Notes
- Flash News: Pay-to-publish system for news and updates
- Uncensored Notes: Community review system inspired by Twitter's Community Notes
- Goal: Verify authenticity of information while rewarding contributors
Phase 2 (Transition): Review System Paused
- Community review/rating features temporarily disabled
- Focus shifted to simpler pay-to-publish model
- Renamed from "Flash News" to "Paid Notes"
Phase 3 (Current): Paid Notes
- Streamlined publishing experience
- Dedicated feed on home page
- Pure creator-driven content without mandatory review
Phase 4 (Potential Future): Return of Community Verification
- Uncensored Notes system may be reintroduced
- Enhanced community-driven fact-checking
- Reward mechanism for contributors
Historical Context: The Flash News & Uncensored Notes System
What Was Flash News?
Flash News was YakiHonne's original name for what is now Paid Notes. It was designed to be a premium, timely news feed where creators could publish:
- Breaking news and updates
- Time-sensitive announcements
- Important community information
- Quick takes on current events
The payment model served two purposes:
- Anti-spam measure: Prevented low-quality content from flooding the feed
- Community fund: Payments went into a pool used to reward Uncensored Notes contributors
What Were Uncensored Notes?
Uncensored Notes was YakiHonne's community-driven fact-checking system, heavily inspired by Twitter's Community Notes feature. The goal was to empower the community to verify, contextualize, and fact-check Flash News posts.
How Uncensored Notes Worked:
- Writing Notes: Users could write verification notes for any Flash News post
- Flagging: Notes could flag content as "misleading" or "accurate"
- Rating System: Community members rated each note as "helpful" or "not helpful"
- Impact Scores: Users had "Writing Impact" and "Rating Impact" scores based on their contribution quality
- Rewards: Contributors earned sats from the Flash News payment pool based on helpful contributions
- Sealing: Highly-rated notes were "sealed" and displayed prominently on the original Flash News
How the Old System Worked
The Complete Flash News + Uncensored Notes Workflow:
Step 1: Flash News Publishing Process
A. Creating the Flash News:
- Navigate to Flash News publishing page
- Write content (text, media, links)
- Add source URLs to prove authenticity
- Add relevant tags for categorization
- Mark as "important" if critical (requires additional payment)
B. Payment: 6. Review total cost (base fee + importance boost if selected) 7. Confirm payment 8. Sats go directly to the Community Rewards Pool 9. Flash News published immediately
Step 2: Flash News Appears on Feed
A. Chronological Display:
- Flash News displayed in order of publication date/time
- Users can filter by specific dates
- Toggle between "all dates" or "dates with content only"
- Filter by "important" flag to see highlighted news
B. User Interactions:
- Zap the Flash News (Lightning tips)
- Bookmark for later
- Upvote/downvote based on quality
- View original source if provided
- Cannot edit Flash News (prevents manipulation)
C. My Flash News Tab:
- Publishers can view their own Flash News
- Option to delete their Flash News (no refund)
- Track engagement and community response
Step 3: Community Writes Uncensored Notes
Once Flash News was published, it appeared in the "New" tab of the Uncensored Notes page, waiting for community verification.
A. Writing an Uncensored Note:
- Navigate to Uncensored Notes page
- View "New" tab showing unverified Flash News
- Select a Flash News to review
- Write verification note with context or evidence
- Flag as "misleading" OR "accurate"
- Include counter-sources if claiming misleading
- Submit note for community rating
B. One Note Per User:
- Each user could write only ONE uncensored note per Flash News
- Prevents spam and encourages thoughtful contribution
- Forces users to make their best case
Step 4: Community Rates Uncensored Notes
After notes were written, other community members rated them.
A. Rating Process:
- Navigate to "Needs Your Help" tab in Uncensored Notes
- Review Flash News and its associated Uncensored Notes
- Read each note carefully
- Rate as "Helpful" or "Not Helpful"
- Rating recorded and contributes to note's score
B. Multiple Raters:
- Each Uncensored Note received ratings from multiple users
- Consensus determined if note was "sealed" (verified)
- Disagreements were resolved through majority voting
C. Rating Impact:
- Users with higher Rating Impact had more weight
- Accurate raters earned higher Rating Impact over time
- Gaming the system reduced your impact score
Step 5: Sealing and Rewards
Once consensus was reached, notes were either "sealed" or dismissed.
A. Sealed Helpful Notes:
- Note reached threshold of "helpful" ratings
- Became permanently attached to the Flash News
- If flagged as "misleading" → warning displayed on Flash News
- If flagged as "accurate" → confirmation badge (visible in detail view)
B. Rewards Distribution:
- Note Writers: Earned sats based on note's helpfulness rating
- Note Raters: Earned sats based on rating accuracy
- Impact Multiplier: Higher Writing/Rating Impact = higher rewards
- Claim Page: Users claimed rewards from "My Rewards" page
C. Impact Score Updates:
- Writing Impact increased if your notes were rated helpful
- Rating Impact increased if your ratings matched consensus
- Poor contributions decreased impact scores
Step 6: Display on Flash News Feed
A. Flash News with NO Verified Notes:
- Displayed normally
- No verification badges or warnings
- Community reviews still viewable in "all notes" section
B. Flash News with "Misleading" Sealed Note:
- Red warning banner displayed
- Sealed note visible at top of Flash News
- Users can expand to see full verification context
- Original Flash News remains visible (not deleted)
- Counter-sources from Uncensored Note shown
C. Flash News with "Accurate" Sealed Note:
- Green confirmation badge (in detail view only)
- Not shown prominently on feed
- Available when viewing full Flash News
- Reinforces credibility
The Impact System Explained
The Uncensored Notes system relied on two key metrics to maintain quality and prevent gaming:
📝 Writing Impact
What it measures: Quality and helpfulness of your Uncensored Notes
How it increases:
- Your notes are consistently rated "helpful" by the community
- Your flagging accuracy (correctly identifying misleading/accurate content)
- Providing well-sourced verification with clear evidence
How it decreases:
- Notes rated "not helpful" repeatedly
- Incorrect flagging (marking accurate news as misleading, or vice versa)
- Low-quality or unsourced notes
Benefits of high Writing Impact:
- Your notes reach "sealed" status faster
- Higher rewards when notes are rated helpful
- More influence on what appears on Flash News
⭐ Rating Impact
What it measures: Accuracy of your ratings on other users' Uncensored Notes
How it increases:
- Your ratings align with community consensus
- Consistent accurate judgment over time
- Rating notes across diverse topics fairly
How it decreases:
- Ratings misaligned with community consensus
- Pattern of biased or random rating
- Suspected coordination or gaming
Benefits of high Rating Impact:
- Your ratings carry more weight in sealing notes
- Higher rewards for accurate rating
- More influence on reward distribution
Why Was the Review System Paused?
The Uncensored Notes system was ambitious, but several challenges led to its temporary suspension:
1. Complexity Barrier
- Dual writing/rating mechanics required significant user education
- Many users found the system confusing
- Onboarding was time-consuming
2. Critical Mass Requirement
- System needed hundreds of active contributors to function effectively
- Early-stage YakiHonne didn't have sufficient daily active users
- Not enough raters to reach consensus quickly
3. Gaming and Manipulation Risks
- Concerns about coordinated attacks by bad actors
- Risk of brigading (organized groups manipulating ratings)
- Impact score system needed refinement to resist gaming
4. Technical and Algorithmic Challenges
- Reward distribution algorithm needed tuning
- Consensus mechanism required optimization
- Edge cases (ties, disputes) needed better handling
5. User Feedback
- Creators requested simpler publishing flow
- Less friction desired for time-sensitive content
- Community preferred optional verification over mandatory review
6. Resource Allocation
- Team needed to focus on core platform features
- Nostr protocol integration took priority
- Lightning payment infrastructure development
Decision: Simplify to pay-to-publish model, gather more users, refine algorithms, then potentially reintroduce verification system in the future.
Current Paid Notes System
The current Paid Notes system is streamlined and creator-focused, removing the review layer while maintaining the core value: guaranteed visibility for paid content.
How It Works Today:
For Publishers:
- Create Content: Write your note (text, media, links)
- Pay to Publish: Pay a fee in sats
- Instant Visibility: Your note appears in the Paid Notes feed immediately
- No Review Required: Published without community verification step
For Readers:
- Visit Home Page: Navigate to YakiHonne home
- Paid Notes Feed: Find the dedicated Paid Notes section
- Browse Content: Chronologically ordered paid content
- Interact Normally: Zap, bookmark, react, reply as usual
Key Differences from Old System:
| Feature | Old (Flash News + UN) | Current (Paid Notes) | |---------|----------------------|---------------------| | Name | Flash News | Paid Notes | | Community Review | ✅ Required (Uncensored Notes) | ❌ Disabled | | Fact-Checking | ✅ Active | ❌ Not Active | | Rewards Pool | ✅ Contributors earned sats | ❌ No longer active | | Payment Goes To | Community rewards pool | Platform/visibility fee | | Publishing Speed | Instant | Instant | | Verification Badge | ✅ Sealed notes | ❌ N/A | | Impact Scores | ✅ Writing/Rating Impact | ❌ Not tracked | | Misleading Warnings | ✅ Displayed | ❌ N/A | | Source Requirements | ✅ Encouraged | Optional | | Note Editing | ❌ Not allowed | ❌ Not allowed |
How to Publish Paid Notes
Step-by-Step Publishing Guide:
Step 1: Navigate to Publishing Interface
- Go to YakiHonne home page (yakihonne.com)
- Look for "+Post new" section
- Select "Note"
Step 2: Compose Your Paid Note
Content Options:
- Text Content: Main message (recommended: 200-500 characters)
- Media Files: Images, videos, GIFs (optional)
- Links: URLs to articles, websites, or resources (optional)
- Tags/Hashtags: For categorization and discoverability (optional)
Best Practices:
✅ Keep it concise and engaging
✅ Use attention-grabbing opening line
✅ Include visual media when possible
✅ Add relevant hashtags (#bitcoin, #nostr, #news, etc.)
✅ Proofread before publishing
✅ Include clear call-to-action if relevant
❌ Avoid spam or purely promotional content
❌ Don't include misleading or false information
❌ Don't use clickbait titles
❌ Avoid excessive hashtags (3-5 max)
Image Reference: current-write-paid-note-interface.png
Step 3: Review Payment Amount
Before confirming, you'll see:
- Base publishing fee: Standard cost in sats
- Optional features: Any boost options (if available)
- Total cost: Final payment amount
- Wallet balance: Confirm sufficient funds
Cost: 800sats
Step 4: Confirm and Publish
- Review your content one final time
- Double-check spelling and links
- Confirm wallet has sufficient balance
- Click "Publish Paid Note" or "Pay & Publish"
- Lightning payment processes (< 1 second)
- Confirmation message appears
- Note is live in Paid Notes feed immediately
Step 5: Post-Publishing Actions
After publishing, you can:
- View in feed: Check how your note appears
- Monitor engagement: Track zaps, bookmarks, upvotes
- Manage notes: Access "My Paid Notes" dashboard
- Delete if needed: Remove note (payment NOT refunded)
- Share: Get direct link to share on other platforms
Where to Find Paid Notes
For Readers: Discovering Paid Content
Primary Location: Home Page Feed
On Desktop (Web App):
- Go to yakihonne.com
- Log in with Nostr keys
- Navigate to Home page
- Open feed options to find "Paid Notes"
- Browse chronologically ordered content
On Mobile App:
- Open YakiHonne mobile app
- Tap Home tab at bottom
- Open feed options to find "Paid Notes"
- Scroll to browse notes
Navigation Tips:
Filtering Options (if available):
- Date selector: View notes from specific dates
- Tag filters: Browse by hashtag categories
- Sort options: Most recent, most zapped, etc.
Interaction Options:
- Zap: Send sats directly to creator
- Bookmark: Save for later reading
- React: Show appreciation or disagreement
- Reply: Engage in discussion (if enabled)
- Republish: Republish paid notes to other corresponding relays
- Share: Copy link or share to other platforms
For Publishers: Managing Your Paid Notes
My Paid Notes Dashboard
Access:
- Go to your dashboard
- Select "Notes" on web or "Content" on mobile
- Filter by "Paid Notes"
Dashboard Features:
- View all your published paid notes
- See engagement metrics (zaps, bookmarks, teactions)
- View publishing history
Future Outlook: The Return of Community Verification?
Will Uncensored Notes Come Back?
Short Answer: Possibly! The community verification system is NOT permanently discontinued—it's on pause while the platform grows and improves.
What Needs to Happen First:
-
Larger User Base:
- Need sufficient daily active users
- Minimum threshold of 1000+ engaged community members
- Diverse geographic and topical representation
-
Improved Algorithms:
- More sophisticated consensus mechanisms
- Better gaming-resistance
- Faster sealing process
- Fair reward distribution
-
Enhanced UX:
- Simpler onboarding for new contributors
- Clearer explanations of Writing/Rating Impact
- Better visualization of verification process
- Mobile-optimized experience
-
Community Demand:
- User requests for fact-checking features
- Feedback indicating need for verification
- Evidence of misinformation issues
-
Resource Allocation:
- Development team bandwidth
- Infrastructure to support reward distribution
- Moderation and appeals process
How You Can Help Bring It Back:
If you want to see the community verification system return:
- Provide Feedback: Share your thoughts on what worked and what didn't
- Stay Engaged: Active users signal demand for advanced features
- Spread the Word: Grow YakiHonne's user base to reach critical mass
- Test Future Betas: Participate when the team runs pilot programs
- Contribute Ideas: Suggest improvements to the system design
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q: What are Paid Notes?
A: Paid Notes are short-form content that creators pay (in sats) to publish to a dedicated feed on YakiHonne's home page. Payment ensures visibility and reduces spam.
Q: Why do I have to pay to publish?
A: The payment serves as an anti-spam measure and ensures only quality, intentional content appears in the Paid Notes feed. It also demonstrates the publisher's confidence in their content.
Q: How much does it cost to publish a Paid Note?
A: 800sats
Q: Can I get a refund if I delete my Paid Note?
A: No, payments are non-refundable. Once published, the payment is processed regardless of whether you later delete the note.
Historical System Questions
Q: What happened to Flash News?
A: Flash News was renamed to "Paid Notes." The core publishing functionality remains the same, but the community review system (Uncensored Notes) is temporarily disabled.
Q: What were Uncensored Notes?
A: Uncensored Notes was a community-driven fact-checking system (similar to Twitter's Community Notes) where users could verify, rate, and flag Flash News posts as misleading or accurate, earning rewards for helpful contributions.
Q: Why was the Uncensored Notes system disabled?
A: The system was paused due to complexity, need for larger user base, gaming concerns, and technical refinement. It may return in the future.
Q: Can I still see old Flash News and Uncensored Notes?
A: Historical Flash News posts may still be visible in paid notes feed, but the Uncensored Notes rating system is no longer active.
Q: What happened to the rewards pool?
A: The community rewards pool that funded Uncensored Notes contributors is no longer active, as the review system is paused.
Q: What were Writing Impact and Rating Impact scores?
A: These were metrics tracking the quality of your verification notes and rating accuracy. They determined your influence and rewards. They're not currently in use.
Current System Questions
Q: How do I publish a Paid Note?
A: Navigate to the Paid Notes publishing interface (from home page or main menu), write your content, confirm payment, and publish. See the "How to Publish" section for details.
Q: Where can I see Paid Notes?
A: Paid Notes appear in a dedicated section on the YakiHonne home page, displayed chronologically.
Q: Can I edit my Paid Note after publishing?
A: No, Paid Notes cannot be edited after publishing to prevent manipulation. You can delete via the deletion smart widgets and republish if needed (but must pay again).
Q: What content is allowed in Paid Notes?
A: Most content is allowed, but spam, illegal content, and deliberately misleading information are discouraged. Follow platform guidelines.
Q: Can readers fact-check my Paid Note?
A: Not currently through a formal system. Readers can zap, reply, react, or report if they believe content is misleading, but there's no active community verification process.
Technical Questions
Q: Are Paid Notes published as Nostr events?
A: Yes, Paid Notes are published as Nostr events, maintaining the decentralized nature of the platform.
Q: What NIP (Nostr Implementation Possibility) do Paid Notes use?
A: NIP-01 side by side with a thresholds management service
Q: Can I see Paid Notes in other Nostr clients?
A: Paid Notes are Nostr events, so they may be visible in other Nostr clients as normal notes depending on which event kinds they support. However, the payment and feed curation are YakiHonne-specific (at-least for now).
Q: How are payments processed?
A: Payments are processed via the Lightning Network using your connected wallet (WebLN, NWC, Alby, etc.)
Future Questions
Q: Will Uncensored Notes come back?
A: Possibly! The system is on pause, not permanently discontinued. It may return when the user base grows and the system is refined.
Q: How will I know if the verification system returns?
A: YakiHonne will announce major feature launches through official channels (website, Nostr posts, and others).
Q: Can I help test the new verification system?
A: Yes! If YakiHonne runs a beta test, interested users will be invited to participate. Follow official announcements.
Q: Will my old Writing/Rating Impact scores be restored?
A: TBD - depends on how the system is reimplemented
Resources and Links
Official Links:
- YakiHonne Website: yakihonne.com
- Paid Notes Information: yakihonne.com/yakihonne-paid-notes