Web 3.0: You may have heard of it, but what is it? Do we really need another version of the internet? What's wrong with the internet we already have? What benefits will Web 3.0 provide that don't already exist?
As someone involved in the blockchain space, any specific applications of decentralized technology are of interest to me. I'm paying attention to this space because I feel that Web 3.0 will allow the internet to exist in the way that it was originally intended to exist, as a truly open avenue that provides virtually endless access to information. It will basically be a more advanced version of the internet we already use.
In that sense, I think we should all be excited about what it will offer, since the internet has become such an important aspect of all of our lives. Decentralization in general will take control away from centralized authorities and give that control to everyone, ultimately furthering equality.
Web 1.0
Web 1.0 was the first stage or iteration of the internet. There were not many content creators and most internet users were consumers. It was characterized by few people creating content and more people on the internet consuming content.
In Web 1.0, static pages were much more common than pages that used dynamic HTML, and content came from a file system rather than a database system. Websites in Web 1.0 have limited functionality. Web 1.0 was much simpler because content on the internet was created by just a handful of people.
Web 2.0
Web 2.0 started being used as a term around 1999 and is the internet that we've all grown accustomed to using today. In Web 2.0, content consumers were encouraged to become content creators. Rather than taking a passive approach to internet use by simply viewing, Web 2.0 provided an environment where more users could become active participants.
Web 2.0 allowed individuals to publish articles and comments, and users could create accounts on different sites, which ultimately encouraged participation and increased the number of people regularly using the internet. Web 2.0 was structured in a way that encouraged more people to create unique content.
Web 2.0 has been characterized by the rise of apps, platforms that enabled self-publishing such as WordPress and Squarespace, and social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. These websites emphasize user-generated content, participation and user-friendly layouts, which are all distinct characteristics of Web 2.0. In simple terms, Web 2.0 transitioned to the idea of "the internet as a platform."
Web 2.0 is the transition that the internet went through after the dot-com bubble, but the internet is once again in the process of transitioning. This new stage of the internet will provide new benefits to users and content creators.
Web 3.0
Web 3.0 is not an entirely new concept. What we consider to be Web 3.0 today was originally coined the Semantic Web by Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of World Wide Web. He envisioned it as a smarter internet that was more autonomous and open.
Web 3.0 Will Be Decentralized
In Web 3.0, data will be connected in a decentralized way, unlike generation 2.0 of the internet in which data is primarily stored in centralized storage locations. In Web 3.0, users will also be able to interact with data through the use of AI and machine learning technology. Ultimately, Web 3.0 will combine the concepts of the Semantic Web with AI.
Web 3.0 Will Use AI
The use of AI will allow data to be provided to users faster, and the data that is provided will be more relevant to each user. We are beginning to see the use of this technology in the internet through algorithms that are used to suggest products, videos, etc., to users based on their previous searches. However, the technology in Web 3.0 will be even more advanced.
A Return to the Original Concept
Web 3.0 will, in some ways, be a return to the original concept of the web, a place where one does not need permission from a central authority to post, there is no central control and there is no single point of failure.
Web 2.0 has been marked by centralization, surveillance and invasive ads, but the use of decentralized technologies such as blockchain will allow a more open environment where data on the internet is decentralized. Web 3.0 will allow decentralized apps to displace centralized social networks such as Facebook, and individuals will maintain ownership over their personal data.
Web 3.0 will be made possible through decentralized protocols, so I predict the future of the internet, blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies will be interconnected and automated through the use of smart contracts.
Web 3.0 will be an updated and enhanced version of the internet that we use today, but with additional benefits due to decentralization. Web 3.0 will be:
• Verifiable
• Trustless
• Self-governing
• Permissionless
One of the most promising aspects of Web 3.0 is that, through its decentralized nature, it will remove control of the internet from the centralized corporations that currently dominate it. In Web 3.0, websites and applications will have access to more information that will be presented in a way that is more beneficial for users.
Why Web 3.0 Matters
For too long, a few large corporations have dominated the internet, meaning that individuals have had less control. These organizations have asked us to provide our personal data in exchange for access to their platforms and services, that they have then monetized and used it for profit.
If you care about the possibility of regaining ownership of your personal data, you should care about Web 3.0. If you wish to use an internet that provides equal benefit to all users, you can be excited about Web 3.0.
Furthermore, if you understand the benefits of decentralization, it's time to recognize the importance of Web 3.0. If you remember the original vision for the World Wide Web, Web 3.0 is in many ways a manifestation of that.