Twitter founder Jack Dorsey blocked on Twitter by Marc Andreessen after his comments and criticism of Web3

What goes around comes around. Twitter is known for censoring dissenting views. Now the founder of Twitter Jack Dorsey is getting a taste of his own medicine. Marc Andreessen, a renowned venture capitalist and Silicon Valley heavyweight, has blocked Jack for his comments on Web3.

The block came after Dorsey criticized the venture capital industry and made several comments about the firm Andreessen co-founded, Andreessen Horowitz. For those of you who may not know Andreessen, he was the early investor in companies including Facebook, Foursquare, GitHub, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even Twitter,

In a tweet, Jack wrote:

“I’m officially banned from web3.”

I’m officially banned from web3 pic.twitter.com/RrEIAuqE6f

— jack (@jack) December 22, 2021

Early this week, Dorsey has expressed a series of views on “Web3” — a new iteration of the Internet that incorporates decentralization based on blockchain technology. Unlike Web 2.0 where data and content are centralized in the hands of Big Tech companies, Web3 revolves around the idea of decentralization and incorporates the use of blockchain technologies, such as various cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Since the whole idea of Web3 is to move power away from the Big Tech and other big companies, perhaps what Jack was saying is that Web3 would be owned by rich VCs like Andreessen instead of “the people.” Jack alluded to this view in a previous tweet saying:

“You don’t own “web3.” The VCs and their LPs do. It will never escape their incentives. It’s ultimately a centralized entity with a different label. Know what you’re getting into…”

You don’t own “web3.”

The VCs and their LPs do. It will never escape their incentives. It’s ultimately a centralized entity with a different label.

Know what you’re getting into…

— jack (@jack) December 21, 2021

Then yesterday, Andreessen finally blocked Jack. In response, Jack tweeted: “I’m officially banned from Web3,” alongside a screenshot showing he had been blocked by Andreessen. Jack’s tweet has also prompted many other Twitter users who have also been blocked by Andreessen to share the same screenshots.

In response to Jack’s original tweet, Jacob Philips of Polychain tweeted this about Wall Street Journal article about Jack’s wanting to reboot and owning the internet.

I have nothing to do with “web3”. WSJ and others need names and photos to generate clicks.

— jack (@jack) December 21, 2021

In response, Jack tweeted back:

“I have nothing to do with “web3”. WSJ and others need names and photos to generate clicks.”

But the war of words didn’t end there. Balaji Srinivasan also joined the conversation accusing Twitter of veering away from its original mission, which has led to de-platforming and censorship.

“I respect you & everything you’ve built. I also disagree here. Twitter started as a protocol, the free speech wing of the free speech party. Then corporate & political incentives led to deplatforming & censorship. Web3 offers the possibility, not guarantee, of something better.”

But Jack shot back saying:

“All false. Twitter started as a corporation. It’s had corporate incentives from day 1. It’s trying to offset those, and it will, through @bluesky.”web3” has the same corporate incentives, but hides it under “decentralization.” It’s literally a different cap table structure.”

All false. Twitter started as a corporation. It's had corporate incentives from day 1. It's trying to offset those, and it will, through @bluesky.

"web3" has the same corporate incentives, but hides it under "decentralization." It's literally a different cap table structure.

— jack (@jack) December 21, 2021

Meanwhile, on its website, Andreessen Horowitz also has a page on its website called “web3 Policy Hub,” with the subhead: “We Deserve a Better Internet.”

“We don’t have all the answers, but we’re eager to work with policymakers, civil society, and other partners to define an affirmative vision for how to use these powerful new tools to benefit society,” the VC says.

The back and forth continues to this morning. Jack took another swipe at Andreessen Horowitz in a new tweet.

From a16z website: “We aim to connect entrepreneurs, investors, executives, engineers, academics, industry experts, and others in the technology ecosystem through open and decentralized blocking of Twitter accounts.”

From a16z website:

“We aim to connect entrepreneurs, investors, executives, engineers, academics, industry experts, and others in the technology ecosystem through open and decentralized blocking of Twitter accounts.” https://t.co/FI86gE7Qbn

— jack (@jack) December 23, 2021

We will continue to monitor this story as it develops.