Public still largely unaware of what Bitcoin is, how to use it and how to obtain

[zimmah]

Looking at the comments of http://9gag.com/gag/abbvy4X its clear that a lot of people have absolutely no idea what Bitcoin is, how to get bitcoins, and why you would even need Bitcoin in the first place.

Even they people answering the question often state that Bitcoin is mainly used in black markets and the deep web.

This is quite shocking, it's good in the sense that it shows Bitcoin has still room to grow, a lot, since most people don't even know about it yet. It's bad in the sense that Bitcoin still has a very bad reputation.

[NorrisK]

Yep, something needs to be done about that. People will soon realize it is smart to have some pieces of bitcoin just as diversification for when the markets start to slow down again.

[batesresearch]

It's very true, people don't know enough about Bitcoin and what they think they know (about Bitcoin only being for drug dealing) is wrong.

I'm starting crypto courses near me later this year but the advertising is more about money not necessarily about Bitcoin. People need to see the benefits of crypto and how it can help them gain control of their money.

[randy8777]

well, people can get to know the basics of bitcoin with just 15 minutes of reading, which is perfectly fine for most people who don't want to get deeper into the technical aspects of the protocol. the only thing of importance is; how do you reach these people. they obviously won't search for it themselfs.

[Denker]

It's obvious that one Antonopoulos is not enough. We need more people like him who can explain complex and difficult things with really simple analogies. Furthermore you can not force people to get curious about Bitcoin. Sometimes you need desastrous happenings that shows the boys and girls out there that something else exist where they could benefit from.

[Kazimir]

I think what would really help if they start realizing how the current money system works.

Personally I got very interested in alternatives for the existing monetary system after watching Money as Debt. A documentary that clearly explains how fiat money (like the US Dollar and Euro) really works. One can only come to the conclusion that it's a ridiculous, unfair, rigged, unsustainable, and unethical piece of global fraud and deception.

Without a shadow of a doubt, fiat money is the biggest con in the history of mankind.

Whether people are interested in Bitcoin or decentralization or technological advancement or not, almost everybody is interested in money. Yet almost nobody, surprisingly not even economy teachers or people working at the bank or in the government, actually know where money comes from.

For me, it all comes down to this question: where does money come from, and why is it acceptable to give the sole privilege of literally creating money out of thin air, exclusively to a bunch of private, commercial organizations. And thereby putting the entire society (individuals, companies, governments, states) at a permanent, everlasting, ever growing debt and dependency of a handful of bankers. This is ridiculous.

Once people would realize how they are systematically getting screwed over, perhaps they'd be more open for alternatives like Bitcoin.

[Daniel91]

I agree with you.
When I look people around me, my friends, co-workers, neighbors, almost none of them knows anything about Bitcoin nor are they interested to know.
For them, the highlight of the Internet is to send e-mail to someone, talk via Skype, share photos from holidays on Facebook and those who are using Internet banking are considered to be advanced internet users
Of course, bitcoin is not so widespread in my country.
This is likely to change when bitcoin becomes mainstream in the near future but until now I'm afraid people here will remain very skeptical about it.

[RustyNomad]

I agree with you.
When I look people around me, my friends, co-workers, neighbors, almost none of them knows anything about Bitcoin nor are they interested to know.
For them, the highlight of the Internet is to send e-mail to someone, talk via Skype, share photos from holidays on Facebook and those who are using Internet banking are considered to be advanced internet users
Of course, bitcoin is not so widespread in my country.
This is likely to change when bitcoin becomes mainstream in the near future but until now I'm afraid people here will remain very skeptical about it.

Very similar situation this side. If you are on WhatsApp you are considered to be 'technologically advanced'. Know anything more and chances are good you will be excluded from the 'click' as you are a tech god and the minions hate feeling inferior.

I'm the only one in our extended group who actually own bitcoin and one of only three who actually know anything about bitcoin and from discussions the only one actually interested in bitcoin. The rest just do not care, have no use for it, do not understand why they should even get it and or use it. Dabbling in something like this [bitcoin] is akin to being involved in a ponzi scheme of sorts and I know some will actually look down on you for being so 'naive' to be investing in such a big 'fraud'.

So saying that I cannot wait for the fiat system to collapse is the understatement of the century.

[worldinacoin]

Educating the public is always a slow and painful process.

[|Bitcoin|]

I agree that bitcoin have still room to grow. It need lots of effort from us to get it mainstream. Many people do not use bitcoin because they think it is for crimes only. They are all wrong. Good company like overstock show interest in bitcoin. Just tat normal people dont know.

[ralle14]

yeah alot of ppl in my country still unaware of what is bitcoin though
and also others don't accept it....
sometimes we need to accept change like accepting bitcoin

[tiggytomb]

A couple of people I briefly explained it to and also about altcoin trading, interest was there at first but then I think they just didn't want to invest the time to go beyond just listening to me go on.

[n2004al]

Nothing to worries and to surprise. No worries because there are people that don't know yet what is internet. Imagine to speak to them for the bitcoin. No surprise because even most of us which know bitcoin know very few about it. For example known that is a internet digital money with which can be bought several things at merchants which accept it. Know that have real value because can be exchanged with fiat money on to many exchange and that's all. To few. Maximum someone know that is a disruptive revolutionary technology behind this currency and even few something about the technical process of production. Me don't seem to much....

[eyeknock]

Even they people answering the question often state that Bitcoin is mainly used in black markets and the deep web.

yes, this is just a clear movement from "some guys" who dont want bitcoin to have sucess at least not yet, the good news about it is that they will not have succes...

This is quite shocking, it's good in the sense that it shows Bitcoin has still room to grow, a lot, since most people don't even know about it yet. It's bad in the sense that Bitcoin still has a very bad reputation.

dont worry, the word cant be stopped, and everyday more and more people start to know about it.

[gentlemand]

It takes a long, long time for 'the public' to cotton on to new technologies. It's not the type of thing that can be forced. When you chuck questioning the nature of money in too...

[frankenmint]

It takes a long, long time for 'the public' to cotton on to new technologies. It's not the type of thing that can be forced. When you chuck questioning the nature of money in too...

Technology is the offspring of science and the military.  The internet Internet concept (networking computing technology to share data) has been around since the 1950s but took till late 80s to be implemented more or less ubiquitously amongst educational institutions - step 2. Early 90s was early adopters and first large successes of internet technology.  step 3 2000s it matures and more things can be done...et al. 

tl;dr - Takes about 30 years for technology to mature into critical mass you guys.  Look at TVs, Radios, Computing technology, Automobiles.

[Pingu]

Looking at the comments of http://9gag.com/gag/abbvy4X its clear that a lot of people have absolutely no idea what Bitcoin is, how to get bitcoins, and why you would even need Bitcoin in the first place.

Well why do most people in the mainstream need or want to use it? They don't really have a use for it currently if we're being honest.

Even they people answering the question often state that Bitcoin is mainly used in black markets and the deep web.

Well it mainly is really at the moment, though this will change over time. Hopefully some big industries like the remittance market will get involved.

[Metadextrous]

Yea, the people in my school who knows bitcoin is just 5 people out of around 300 people. Bitcoin awareness in my country is still low, and there also no merchant which accepting bitcoin around here.

[GreanT]

Yep, something needs to be done about that. People will soon realize it is smart to have some pieces of bitcoin just as diversification for when the markets start to slow down again.

I don't think people will soon realize it is smart to have pieces of Bitcoin if the price continues to be so volatile. Huge price fluctuations scare most people, and major dips like the flash crash the other night results in investors and average consumers putting their money elsewhere. BTC has to not only overcome the stigma attached to it as a "black market currency", it also has to overcome the notion that it is the 21st century tulip mania. I tried to convince a friend for months to get into BTC- sent him some links and even gave him a book. He read up on it... I went to buy silver from him the other day and when I offered to pay in BTC he told me to "keep those koopa coins". I think it will take some serious convincing to show people BTC can retain value long-term.

[ralle14]

this is the sad thing that alot of ppl don't know what bitcoin is
only like 20-30 % in my country knows what bitcoin is and that
is really sad