The emergence of Web3, which represents the next phase of the internet, is discussed in an article by the Conversation. Written by Arman Hassanniakalager, the article describes Web3 as a decentralized and user-centric platform that provides greater control and privacy to internet users. The author explains that Web3 is built on blockchain technology and offers various use cases, including financial services, data storage, identity management, and IoT.
Here is how Arman explain the evolution of the Web:
- Web 1 was the first phase of the World Wide Web, which was invented by computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee in 1989. It allowed users to hyperlink static pages of information on websites accessible through internet browsers. Berners-Lee launched the world's first website in 1991, which provided instructions on using the internet. These "read-only" websites were managed by webmasters who were responsible for updating users and managing the information. The number of websites increased from 10 in 1992 to 3,000 by 1994, and 1.2 billion websites in 2022, although only 17% of them are estimated to be active.
- Web 2 refers to the second phase of the World Wide Web, which saw a shift from a "read-only web" to a "read-write web". This phase was characterized by more dynamic and interactive websites, with people participating in generating content through services like Wikipedia, Blogger, and Tumblr. The term "Web 2.0" was popularized by Tim O'Reilly in 2004. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as mobile apps, led to unparalleled connectivity, but are also known as "walled gardens" because they heavily regulate user activity and do not exchange information with competing services. Tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple have become deeply embedded in our lives, controlling aspects such as content storage, payment, and personal data.
- The terms Web3 and Web 3.0 are often used interchangeably, but they are different concepts. Web3 refers to a decentralized internet built on blockchain, while Web 3.0 traces back to Berners-Lee's original vision for the internet as a collection of websites linking everything together at the data level. The current internet is considered a gigantic document depot, with computers capable of retrieving information but not understanding its deeper meaning. Web 3.0 envisions advances in programming, natural language processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, allowing computers to process information more effectively. Information would be stored in Solid Pods owned by individual users, which would allow for quicker data changes without distribution over multiple places. For example, a user's social media profiles could be linked so that updating personal information on one would automatically update the rest.
However, the article also points out that Web3 is still in its early stages of adoption and faces challenges related to infrastructure and user-friendliness. The author highlights the need for significant improvements in these areas for Web3 to realize its full potential.
The article suggests that Web3 has the potential to transform the internet and offers a more democratic and equitable online environment. However, its success depends on how these challenges are addressed, and the author argues that policymakers, industry leaders, and users must work together to support and promote the development of Web3.
In conclusion, the article provides an overview of the emerging Web3 technology and its potential to transform the internet. It highlights the challenges that Web3 faces and calls for collaborative efforts to address these challenges and enable the full potential of Web3 to be realized.
The Conversation - The next phase of the internet is coming.