The Nostr Protocol (Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays) is a simple open standard for decentralised, censorship-resistant social networking. Instead of a single server, Nostr uses a client-relay model. Each user controls a cryptographic keypair (public/private key) as their Identity, and runs a client application that connects to one or more independent relays (servers). Every piece of user content (posts, comments, profile updates, likes, etc.) is an event, a signed JSON object, which the client publishes to relays. Relays store and forward events; they cannot alter them without breaking the signature. This architecture gives users full ownership of their Identity and data, so no corporation or central authority can ban or delete content globally. In Nostr, your public key (npub) is your account, and you control it through your private key (nsec). Users generate keys locally (not managed by a company) and can connect to multiple relays for redundancy.
Key principles of Nostr include self-sovereign Identity, no single point of failure, and simplicity. By design, the network is censorship-resistant because any relay can host any content, and relays are privately owned with their own policies; no central authority can unilaterally remove a user or content. If one relay censors or goes offline, users switch to others. Nostr's redundancy preserves data availability. Likewise, user privacy and data control are built in; there is no corporate entity harvesting profiles or browsing histories. Users publish only what they want to share with their chosen audience, and even private messages use end-to-end encryption (NIP-04) so only intended recipients can read them. In short, Nostr shifts trust to the user who holds the keys to your Identity, and your data isn't sold or algorithmically promoted behind your back.
Core Nostr Components and Features
Events and Content: Everything is an event. A "post" or status update is a Kind-1 text note event. Users can also create special events for profile metadata (Kind-0), follow/contact lists (Kind-3), and many other purposes. For example, your profile (name, avatar, bio) is a signed metadata event that you publish to relays. Posts can include text and references (e.g., hashtags, mentions, links); some clients also support attaching images or files via external URLs (with NIPs for file metadata and attachments). Because each event is signed, users can trust its authenticity and authorship without a central certificate authority.
Relays and Networking: Relays are simple servers that store events and serve them to clients on request. Users typically connect to multiple relays for reliability. (For example, services like the Shugur relay cluster allow a client to connect to one endpoint but access many replicated servers.) Clients intelligently choose relays and fetch events; because relays cannot modify content, the Protocol guarantees end-to-end data integrity. Nostr currently has many public relays (anyone can run one) as well as specialised paid or private relays. A new platform could operate its own high-availability relay cluster to ensure performance, while encouraging users to add other relays for true decentralisation.
Follow Lists and Feeds (NIP-02 & NIP-51): Nostr uses a follow/contact list (NIP-02) to track which public keys a user wants to follow. This is simply a replaceable event listing pubkeys and optional relay hints (see NIP-51 for advanced lists). Clients build a personal feed by subscribing to events from followed keys (and possibly by hashtags or "communities" tags). In practice, a Facebook-like feed on Nostr would be the chronological merge of all new posts (kind-1 events) from people and communities you follow. This stream can be filtered by your lists (e.g. muting certain users or keywords via NIP-51 mute lists) and can include replies, reposts, and media. For example, in the Coracle web client, each entry is an event signed with the author's key.
The author's key signs each post (note) and appears with text, an image, a hashtag (#foodstr), and counters for replies, reposts, and likes. This demonstrates how Nostr posts and interactions (comments, reactions) can be presented in a Facebook-like news feed.
Reactions and Engagement (NIP-25): Nostr's reaction events support social engagement (likes, dislikes, emojis). NIP-25 defines Kind-7 reaction events, where the content field is typically "+" (like/upvote), "-" (dislike/downvote), or an emoji. Each reaction event references the target post via tags so that the original author can be notified. Clients can display these reactions in the UI (for instance, showing a heart for "+" or a custom emoji). In our platform concept, every post and comment would allow users to react with emoticons or upvotes, just like Facebook "likes". (No centralised tally is needed; the client can count how many "+" reaction events target a given post.)
Comments and Threads: A user can reply to any post by creating a new Kind-1 event that includes an "e" tag pointing to the original post's event ID. Relays and clients naturally thread these reply events under the original message. In the UI, replies appear as comments. Users can also mention others (by including a "p" tag for the target's pubkey) or share/boost content by reposting it with attribution. There is no built-in "share" event type in the core spec, but clients can implement a repost by simply creating a new note that quotes or links to the original event.
Profiles and Metadata: Each user's profile (display name, avatar URL, bio, etc.) is stored in a metadata event (Kind-0) published to relays. Clients index these events so that profiles can be fetched by public key. A Facebook-like platform would use this to show user pages the client looks up your metadata event, and then your posts. Because metadata events are replaceable (NIP-01), users can update their info at any time, and it will be reflected across apps. Optionally, we could adopt NIP-05 (DNS verification) to let users map their key to a handle (e.g. alice@example.com), making discovery easier.
Direct Messaging (NIP-04): Nostr supports encrypted direct messages via NIP-04. A DM is simply an event whose content is encrypted with the recipient's public key. Both sender and receiver hold the message key. The UI can have a separate Conversations tab (as seen in many Nostr clients) where users can exchange private chats. Unlike Facebook's server-based Messenger, Nostr DMs remain decentralised; the client encrypts messages end-to-end, and relays cannot read them.
Groups and Communities (NIP-29, NIP-72): Facebook's "Groups" or "Pages" can be built using Nostr's community protocols. NIP-72 defines structured communities with roles, moderation rules, and membership. A community is an event that defines its admins and members, and posts to the community carry its unique tag. Users who join will see a dedicated feed of community posts. Alternatively, NIP-29 ("Relay-based groups") describes more lightweight chat groups via a shared group ID on a relay. In practice, our platform could create two types of models open "pages" (anyone can post in a public community channel) and private "groups" (invite-only forums). Moderators (community creators) can use NIP-72 roles to pin announcements, remove posts, or assign admin privileges, balancing freedom with order.
Multimedia Content: To emulate Facebook's rich media, the platform must support photos, videos, and audio. Nostr has no built-in file storage; instead, posts can include URLs pointing to hosted images or videos. For example, clients like Olas provide a photo-sharing interface on Nostr (photos are uploaded to a CDN and referenced by Nostr events). We would integrate or encourage such solutions, where users uploading a photo would get back a URL, which would be included in the post event. The client then displays the image inline. (There are also NIPs for file metadata and IPFS-like attachments.) This way, Nostr posts can include image carousels or video embeds, like on Facebook, while the actual bytes are served from fast content servers.
Lists and Personalisation: Beyond simple follow lists, NIP-51 provides custom lists to personalise the experience. For instance, a mute list (kind 10000) can block certain keywords or users, ensuring unwanted content is hidden. Users can also "bookmark" favourite posts (list kind 10003) or create relay sets and interest sets to curate their feed. We can build a feature that lets users subscribe to hashtags or interest groups (e.g., #Cooking, #News) and see trending topics. Notably, NIP-51 also defines "starter packs" (kind 39089) as pre-made lists of interesting users to follow. This could jump-start new users. The app might suggest packs such as "friends from contacts" or "popular local accounts" to help you build your initial social graph.
Multi-Platform Clients: Nostr already has diverse clients on web, mobile, and desktop. Popular examples include Damus (iOS), Amethyst (Android), Coracle (web), Gossip (desktop), and Nos (iOS). For our platform, we would develop or customise a client app (possibly a progressive web app with native iOS/Android wrappers) that implements Facebook-like navigation, e.g., a home feed, profile pages, a groups section, a messenger tab, notifications, etc. The UI would incorporate known paradigms (infinite-scrolling feeds, a floating "new post" button, tabs for DM and notifications). For example, the Amethyst Android client is very similar to a mobile social app. We would ensure both mobile and desktop versions from day one, using cross-platform frameworks or responsive design.
The "All Follows" feed (dark theme) shows posts by users (ODLELL, Derek) with engagement icons, comments (💬), reposts (↻), likes (❤️), and Lightning zaps (⚡). A floating button (+) lets users create a new post. Tabs at the top separate the public feed from private "Conversations" (DMs). This illustrates how a Nostr app can provide an intuitive mobile interface akin to mainstream social apps.
Notifications and Interactivity: Our platform will support real-time updates via WebSocket connections to relays, so new posts and reactions appear instantly. We can implement Nostr "notification" events or rely on clients watching for mentions/replies on relays. Users receive alerts when someone follows them, replies to them, or sends a Lightning zap. In terms of UX, this feels like Facebook's notifications and live updates. Importantly, because everything is decentralised, each user's client decides what events to fetch and how often; there is no hidden algorithm pushing unwanted posts. Users always see what they explicitly subscribe to (or what appears on the relays they trust).
Data Control and Privacy
A Facebook-like site on Nostr must ensure users control their own data. Nostr's design inherently limits data harvesting; there is no single database of profiles or metadata for an outsider to scrape. Relays only store events; they do not advertise user lists or track browsing. Since your Identity is your keypair, not a name/email, linking personal data to a real person is optional. If users want anonymity or pseudonymity, that is supported by default.
To maintain control, users hold their private keys locally (often guarded by a wallet or seed phrase). If a user loses their key, their account is permanently gone, but importantly, no company can lock you out or demand a password reset. We will educate users on secure key backup (for example, writing down the seed). The client's onboarding flow can generate and store keys safely, analogous to a crypto wallet. Optionally, a user could run a personal relay or use an "encrypted backup" (NIP-04-style) of their own posts to provide extra assurance of data retention.
Posting and deletion: When you post something, it gets signed and published to chosen relays. By default, this is public, but users can also post to an encrypted group or send as an encrypted message. If a user later wants to "delete" a post, Nostr provides an NIP-09 delete event; you emit a delete request for your own event ID. Compliant relays can then remove or hide that event. (Since not all relays may honour deletes, a recommended practice is to designate a relay that respects deletions or not to repost sensitive content.) In practice, many users assume public posts are permanent, or use ephemeral "stories" elsewhere. Still, the existence of NIP-09 means we can honour the user's intent to remove content wherever possible.
Privacy of communications: All private chats use NIP-04 encryption, so even the platform operators cannot read them. Furthermore, we can support additional privacy features, such as Cashu wallets (NIP-60/61) for private tipping, enabling completely anonymous Lightning-like payments. In short, user data (messages, posts, follows) stays on the user's device and the relays; the only possible leak is through the relays you connect to. But since you can always choose new relays or run your own, you remain in control of who sees your data.
Engagement, Community & Unique Features
To maximise user satisfaction while staying true to Nostr's ethos, our platform will combine familiar social features with Nostr's unique advantages:
Rich feed and discovery: By default, a user's feed is chronological and under their control. However, we can layer in optional discovery tools; for example, trending hashtags can be computed by analysing popular events on relays (without needing personal data). We might include a "Discover" page showing trending tags or top posts in public communities. Because any client can implement its own logic, we expect multiple variations, but our official client will include filters, search, and personalised lists (e.g. "Close Friends", "Work Colleagues"). All filtering is done on the client side (your keys stay local).
Lightning micropayments ("zaps"): Instead of ads, the platform monetises through user tipping developers.shugur.net. Every post and comment can have a "Tip" or "Zap" button. Users who create valuable content can receive sats from others. This NIP-57 feature is built into Nostr. When a user clicks "Zap", a Lightning invoice is generated, attached to a new event, and the receiver receives a payment notification. Because Lightning is very fast and cheap, even small tips (a few cents) are feasible. This encourages quality content creators to be rewarded directly by the community, not by selling ad attention. For example, artists might tag their posts as #SatSeeking and earn micropayments for fan support. A Lightning wallet will be integrated (or the user can connect an existing wallet like Alby), so they see their balance and can send/receive tips seamlessly.
No ads, no tracking: By committing to "Lightning tipping only" monetisation, we explicitly avoid any ad network. This means no algorithmic feed, no targeted ads, and no data sell. User experience is free of pop-ups and privacy intrusions. It also aligns with Nostr's ethos; the platform does not monetise attention, it empowers users to choose to pay for content. (Optionally, creators could set public donation keys or use "content locks" via special NIPs, but in our model, content is free and tips are voluntary.)
Enhanced community features: In addition to basic groups, we can leverage advanced NIPs. For instance, time-locked posts (NIP-XX, "Time Capsules") let a user schedule a message to decrypt at a future date. This could be used for surprise announcements or puzzles. We may also support custom emoji packs (NIP-30), so each community can have its own reaction icons, and profile badges (NIP-#) to highlight moderators or superusers. Because Nostr is open, we can integrate any useful NIP, for example, document signing or polls, provided they respect decentralisation.
Portable Identity and referrals: New users need an easy entry. We can allow users to sign up by generating a keypair, but also optionally link an email or social account via NIP-05 (DNS) for easier login (under the hood, it still maps to a key). We'll provide "import pubkey" and "follow by username" features. If a friend refers you, they can give you their public key or a QR code. This fosters network growth. Importantly, because identities are portable, users can take their follow list and communities to any compatible client (one user's key works everywhere).
Community moderation and ethics: Decentralisation means there is no global content policy, but that doesn't mean anarchy. Individual communities and relays can set their own rules. Users will have tools to block or mute others (using NIP-51 mute lists), and group admins can remove posts or ban members. We will emphasise user choice. If a user objects to certain content, they unfollow or switch to a relay/community that filters it. This model reflects Nostr's philosophy, "different people have different morals, and each server can follow its own criteria for rejecting content, and users are free to choose what to read and from where". In practice, our platform can pre-configure sensible defaults (e.g. safe-search filters, optional NSFW warnings) without a single central censor.
User Agency and Ethics: Because we do not own data, we adopt the highest standards of transparency and privacy. For example, we will publish our code and relay policies. Ethically, we are committed to privacy, no logs of user behaviour, and we will not monetise data. We must also plan for abuse, while we cannot moderate across all Nostr, we can enforce rules on our own interface and recommended relays. For instance, if illegal content appears, our client can warn users or stop fetching from relays that host it. Users also have legal protections since they control their own data, and the risk of third-party data breaches is minimised.
Technical and UX Considerations
Multi-Relay Connectivity: Under the hood, the client should connect to at least 3-5 relays to ensure redundancy. We might operate a dedicated cluster (like a master outbox) for reliability, but allow users to add or remove relays. A relay set UI will help users manage these connections (per NIP-51 relay lists). For end users, this complexity can be abstracted: they see "Connected (3 relays)" or "sync in progress."
Performance and Scalability: Nostr's simplicity means scalability depends on the performance of relays. We must choose or host relays with strong indexing and good uptime. We can also support partial offline mode, where the client can cache recent feed items locally to make the app feel instant. Future work might include offline posts that sync later. In any case, timeline navigation remains mostly chronological, avoiding opaque ranking algorithms.
Cross-Platform UI: We'll provide a responsive web app and native iOS/Android apps. The desktop (web) version can use frameworks such as React or Svelte to build a dynamic feed. Mobile apps will use native UI patterns (bottom tab bars, pull-to-refresh). A consistent design language will make the experience feel polished and familiar. For example, "Stories" or ephemeral posts could be implemented using short-lived Nostr events or a separate timeline (though this isn't a core Protocol feature, it could be added with ephemeral content ID).
Onboarding (General Public): Since the target is the general public (not just crypto enthusiasts), special care is needed at signup. We will guide users through key creation with simple metaphors ("secret key = your unique account passport"). Options include backing up the key via QR code, handwriting, or device storage (as with a cryptocurrency wallet). We might even allow PIN protection of the key for convenience. At signup, we can present "starter packs" of suggested follows (NIP-51), such as a news broadcaster, tech influencers, or local community. This helps new users see content immediately.
Integration with Existing Nostr Clients: Rather than building an entirely isolated silo, our platform will interoperate with the broader Nostr ecosystem. Other Nostr apps can also read any post or comment made on our platform if they subscribe to the same relays. Likewise, users on other clients (Damus, Amethyst, etc.) can discover and interact with users of our platform if they connect to our relays. We can even integrate with or partner with existing clients, for example, by publishing official relay-recommended lists or extensions. This openness ensures that users truly "own" their social graph; they aren't trapped on a single site.
Ethical Implications and Summary
In summary, a Facebook-like social network built on Nostr shifts power from centralised corporations to individual users. Users retain full sovereignty over their accounts and data. No entity can retroactively censor posts and messages; instead, moderation is distributed and voluntary. Privacy is baked in without ads or tracking, and user interactions are not commoditised. Lightning tipping aligns incentives ethically, users directly reward each other, not a platform selling user attention.
Of course, this model brings trade-offs. Without a global curation algorithm, we rely on user choice to filter content. Some may argue that this could allow fringe or harmful content to exist. However, Nostr's view is that "different people have different morals and preferences", and as a result, each user (or relay owner) makes their own calls. Our role is to make those tools accessible and to encourage a healthy community culture.
Technically, Nostr is still evolving. Current challenges include scalability and spam, but features like zaps (small fees) already help mitigate spam. The platform we envision could even contribute back improvements or sponsored relays to the ecosystem. In doing so, it would demonstrate how a fully decentralised social media can match the functionality users expect from Facebook, while upholding the values of data freedom and user empowerment.