Web3 Multimedia Applications: Under the Impact of Decentralization

In the Web3 ecosystem, multimedia applications exhibit significant potential by leveraging decentralization, regarded as the core spirit of Web3. This survey aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential of decentralization in shaping multimedia applications in the Web3 ecosystem. Through a systematic review of the academic research conducted over the past decade on Web3 decentralization, we identify the two key distinctive decentralization characteristics (decentralized assets and decentralized participation). Subsequently, we comprehensively analyze Web3 applications from both technology and application dimensions. Building upon this, we focus on multimedia-related aspects and propose an architecture for Web3 multimedia applications. In contrast to the broader scope of Web3 applications, the unique aspects of Web3 multimedia applications reside in their core application components (non-fungible tokens and smart contract-based rules) and core application domains (art, games, and social media). Based on this architecture, we provide a precise definition of Web3 multimedia applications. Lastly, through the lens of the two identified distinctive decentralization characteristics, we investigate the advantages, development, and limitations of Web3 multimedia applications within the three core application domains, namely crypto art, blockchain games, and blockchain on social media (BOSM). Furthermore, we share our insights into several promising yet challenging directions, covering the interoperability and potential of increasingly valuable multimedia content, as well as the delicate balance between centralization and decentralization.