This post is from a low-reputation account and contains an unverified outbound link. Be cautious before clicking external links.
steemit service was founded in 2016 by Ned Scott and Dan Larimer, creator of BitShares.It is powered by an open source blockchain called Steem.
According to Investopedia, a blockchain is a public ledger of all [crypto-currency] transactions that have ever been executed...proof of all the transactions on the network.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) identifies seven red flags of a Ponzi scheme. If Steemit was such a scheme, it would be exposed here. Source of Ponzi red flags from the SEC:
https://www.sec.gov/answers/ponzi.htm
Becoming a user on Steemit does not require an initial investment. so its safe to say steemit is safe.
source 