The next evolution of the Internet is Web 3.0.
Right now, we are in what’s called Web 2.0, which we will get into detail in just a bit.
Web 2.0 is all about social with just a few platforms holding all the power on the Internet.
Think Google, Facebook, Twitter, or Amazon.
Your data is stored on these companies’ servers.
These companies completely control most of the data on the Internet.
But what if it didn’t have to be this way?
And that’s where Web 3.0 comes in.
It aims to put the control of data into the user’s hands.
Let’s find out how Web 3.0 works and what Web 3.0 is.
What is Web 3.0?
Before we can explain what Web 3.0 is, we have to look back at how the Internet worked in the past and how it works in the present.
Let’s start with what is Web 1.0 and Web 2.0?
Web 1.0
Web 1.0 was the very first way of the web.
This was the Static Web. Here you, the consumer, would be served a webpage, but you could really interact with it in any way other than clicking links to the next page.
On Web 1.0, you couldn't log in or create a user profile or comment on any articles. Unless you knew how to create a webpage, you were not able to contribute to the Internet in any way.
And where were the memes?! On to Web 2.0…
Web 2.0
Web 2.0, also known as the Social Web, is where we are currently.
During Web 1.0, technology got a lot better. These new advancements in web technology introduced things like JavaScript, CSS3, and HTML5, which allowed more interaction on the Internet.
Now you could do things like create user profiles, posts, or comment on articles. Interactive webpages like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube were born, and social networks and user generated content took off.
In Web 2.0 companies like Facebook and Twitter are able to collect your data to give you a more personalized view of the web. My Twitter feed is different from your Twitter feed based on things that we have interacted with on the Internet. This data allows companies to sell more targeted ads to other companies.
In Web 2.0 you are the product.
Web 3.0
Web 3.0 aims to take the Internet back for the users.
In Web 3.0 the Internet will be more intelligent using things like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technology. The goal here is to make the Internet more user-specific to increase privacy and the security of your data.
Web 3.0 aims to be a more decentralized version of the Internet. Here the users will have control over their own data using technologies like Blockchain. Instead of logging into websites using your Facebook or Google account you would log in using, for example, your Ethereum wallet. This is now your personalized "account".
You can use this one "account", or possibly avatar, to log in to your email, social media, or go online shopping without ever giving your personal data to anyone.
No longer will the Internet giants control your data.
The Benefits of Web 3.0
One of the main ideas for Web 3.0 is to build the new Internet on the blockchain.
Decentralization
The main idea behind blockchain is decentralization. Web 3.0 aims to be decentralized. This means that no one, two, or three main companies will hold all the power. With Web 3.0 websites can offer you tokens to help support their blockchain network. Using tokens, users can vote where they want to see the future of the website go. Now users hold the power.
That’s not the only benefit of a decentralized web.
Logging Into Websites or Services With Your Own Account
You know when you go to a website and you go to log in and your options are to log in with Facebook or Google? Well, one of Web 3.0's goals is to have your own personalized “account” that you are able to go from site to site seamlessly rather than using accounts controlled by big companies, using your crypto wallet. This will give you more freedom over your own data, where you can choose who sees what data, and who cannot.
Web 3.0 Gives More Freedom to Creators
Creators will be able to post their content to a Web 3.0 website using the blockchain. Instead of getting paid for their content in dollars, creators can now be paid in the website's token, which can be used to vote or be exchanged into other cryptocurrencies or real world value.
Blockchain Technology is Secure
With Web 2.0 there are chokepoints. If Twitter or Facebook’s servers go down, even for just a few minutes, they can disrupt many other websites in the process. With Web 3.0, websites will be on a blockchain network, meaning if one or two servers go down, many other servers will still be up on the network keeping the site alive.
This is especially true for your own personal account. If Facebook is down, you cannot log into other sites using Facebook anymore. Your own personal account on the blockchain will never go down. This means there will be less interrupted services and a more seamless Internet.
Web 3.0 Will Rely on Artificial Intelligence
This is a benefit for many reasons. One, artificial intelligence will make your new web a lot more personalized. You will start to see a lot more content that you want to view, rather than random content you aren’t interested in. You can already see this starting to come forth with algorithms such as YouTube which suggests new videos based on what you have already watched.
For advertisers, this means a more targeted audience looking at their ads. It’s good for buyers too, because they will start to see the ads of things they actually wish to purchase. Nothing like scrolling through Instagram seeing random stuff pop up and bog down your news feed. Web 3.0 wants to make your Internet experience a lot better.
Is Web 3.0 the Future?
Right now, Web 3.0 is just an idea, but more and more big companies and startups are investing money into developing it. It’s too early to say whether or not Web 3.0 will be the future, but it certainly looks like the web will be going to in that direction.
Something very interesting with Web 3.0 is called the Metaverse. If you’re in this space you have probably already heard of the Metaverse. Even Facebook has rebranded to Meta in order to be at the
front of the line when it comes to the Metaverse.
The Metaverse is a digital future set in virtual and augmented reality. A lot of early ideas and videos look like you can interact with other people’s avatars and even work with them too. If you have seen Ready Player One, you may see some similarities here.
There are even Metaverse-like games popping up, as well as digital real estate. Most of these are created by small indie game companies, but if the Metaverse takes off we could see Triple A game companies creating games for the Metaverse. Imagine playing the Sims in the Metaverse! Wait, isn’t that just real life?
Summarize
First there was the static web, Web 1.0, where websites were served to you without any type of user interaction. Then there was Web 2.0, the Social Web, where users could interact with web pages and create content through social media giants. Next we are looking at Web 3.0, where the Internet aims to be more decentralized and personalized.
Web 3.0 aims to be built on Blockchain technology to give the power of the web to the users instead of large companies.
With Web 3.0, you would no longer log into websites using your Google or Facebook account, but with your crypto wallet. You will have your own personalized account that you can use to go from website to website seamlessly. The user will also hold their own private data instead of their data being stored on large servers held by a few companies.
Many different players are investing in Web 3.0, but it's hard to tell at the moment if this will be the future of the Internet, though it looks like it may go in that direction.
The Metaverse seems to be the direction the Internet is headed in. This will be set in a digital world where you can interact with, work with, or play with others using your own avatar.
The future will be interesting with Web 3.0!
