For many years, man has relentlessly pursued to match the pace of time itself. Throughout history, we have witnessed the ebb and flow of countless advancements, an unending cascade of progress, and the rise and fall of successive empires. However, the advent of the Internet has posed a significant shift in how man sees. Unlike earlier centuries, where information was limited across specific locales, we now live in an age where accessing millions of information takes just a fraction of a second. The Internet has become an increasing part of our everyday lives, and with its utilization, one would almost forget that it began just 40 years ago.

The Internet constitutes a network of computers intricately linked across the entire globe. It operates as an interwoven mesh of networks and relies on the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite for facilitating communication between diverse networks and devices.

The World Wide Web (WWW), a prominent mechanism employed to harness the capabilities of the Internet, has played a pivotal role in bolstering this expansive network of computers. Using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the World Wide Web facilitates data transmission and enables the retrieval of information stored within various interconnected Internet networks.

However, this prominent system (WWW) has evolved in tandem with the Internet, progressing through various stages and distinct eras. The World Wide Web has journeyed through the era known as Web 1. During this phase, the Internet primarily functioned as a one-way street, allowing users to consume information made available on the net. Web 1.0 was characterized as a read-only and static web, resembling a library where users could read information in books but could not interact or make changes.

Then came Web 2. With its arrival, the Internet transformed into a space where users gained the ability to not only consume but also contribute their own content to the Web. This was facilitated through social media applications, blogs, and various other platforms. Defining the era as the “read-write web.” Technological advancements, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Ajax, fueled the progression. These technologies opened a world of possibilities within the Web 2 landscape, leading to websites where users could actively interact with online platforms.

Dynamic websites were built, users could interact with the Internet, social media and web platforms were developed, users became addicted, and soon, companies started monetizing user’s data.

Just as nothing endures forever, the era of Web 2 is gradually fading. Users’ preferences are shifting, and technological advancements continue to reshape the Internet. The once groundbreaking concept of Web 2 no longer leads the forefront of online interactions and communications. Concerns like user privacy, data breaches, vulnerabilities due to a single point of failure, the looming risk of censorship, and security drawbacks have all led to the development of Web 3.

Web 3 is an evolution of the Internet, marked by a shift towards decentralization. It is often described as the ‘read, write, and execute’ Web. It employs a decentralized platform built upon blockchain technology to give control to users. With Web 3, users are empowered, not only to read and write content, but also to possess ownership over the information they create and interact with online. This signifies a profound change, granting users greater authority over their data and the freedom to determine how and where it is shared.

Web 3 entails fundamental shifts, moving from cloud storage to IPFS, centralized systems to EOS/Ethereum, embracing decentralized social networks, and fostering the growth of DAOs. Web 3 is a transition from a centralized system of processes towards decentralized blockchain networks.

Why are we integrating?’

During the first generation of the World Wide Web, Web 1, users had restricted capabilities, primarily limited to searching for and reading existing information. Websites at this stage were basic HTML pages, offering minimal interaction through hyperlink clicks and form submissions. This era represented static and unidirectional communication, serving as the foundational phase of the Internet’s evolution.

However, users’ dissatisfaction clicked in, and they demanded more interactions and engagement with the websites they visited. Thus, the quick evolution into Web 2.

Web 2 offers users various opportunities to engage with the Internet actively. This era is defined by user-generated content, social networking, and interactive applications. Users gain the ability to produce their content, engage with fellow users, and seamlessly exchange information in real time. This shift turns the Internet into a dynamic and captivating web, fostering vibrant and interactive online experiences.

Web 2 business model relies on user’s participation to create fresh content, and this resulting data is usually sold to third parties for marketing purposes. In Web 2, broadband with an average internet speed of 1 Mbps was common. Technologies like XML, Web Services, and Ajax also connected applications seamlessly. This period saw a notable growth in applications that focused on social interactions and entertainment.

In Web 2, companies expanded their role from merely delivering content to users. They started offering platforms for users to share their content and interact with one another. With the increasing online population, a few prominent companies have gained significant control over web traffic and value. During this time, the advertising-driven revenue model emerged, shaping the way income was generated. Although users could generate content, they typically didn’t have ownership over it or reap benefits from its monetization.

The Internet, originally designed as an open and decentralized network, experienced a shift towards centralization, falling under the control of a handful of corporations. There have been cases where major tech companies faced public backlash for amassing extensive user data without explicit consent and leveraging it for their economic gain. These actions have sparked apprehensions about privacy and surveillance, highlighting the challenges of preserving user privacy and granting users adequate control over their data.

Image Credit: NPR

The following among many issues have been raised concerning the limitation of Web 2;

Privacy erosion: Personal data is often amassed, stored, and exploited on the Internet, exposing users to potential data breaches and security lapses. Sadly, the mishandling or theft of user data has resulted in identity theft and financial fraud, subjecting users to considerable risk. A substantial volume of data is generated through consumer activities like searches, online shopping, and content uploads. Despite users uploading this data to their profiles, it doesn’t remain under their ownership. Instead, it resides within the servers of the companies they interact with, making these companies intermediaries between the users and their data. This custody position empowers these companies to capitalize on the data through advertising and other avenues.

Image credit: The Guardian

Plagiarism: The structure and algorithm of Web 2.0 platforms fail to counteract plagiarism effectively. Plagiarism is prevalent within the Web 2 landscape, leading to a notable environmental constraint. It is relatively effortless to duplicate an original creator’s content and amass a following around it on social media platforms. In some cases, those who replicate content receive more recognition and compensation than the original creators themselves. This dynamic complicates the compensation process for genuine creators on the Web 2.

How Is Web 3 Any Different?

Web 3 is constructed upon blockchain technology. Unlike conventional centralized databases, blockchains form distributed networks where each participant possesses a copy of the same ledger. This structure eliminates the requirement for a central authority to manage data, contrasting the Web 2 ecosystem.

Within the blockchain framework, data is dispersed across the entire network of computers. Each “block” encompasses a set of transactions, and whenever a new transaction transpires on the blockchain, a record of it is added to the ledger of every participant. The term for this decentralized database maintained by numerous participants is Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).

Each transaction documented on the blockchain has an unalterable cryptographic signature known as a hash. This hash ensures that no block within the blockchain can be modified or tampered with. Should a hacker endeavor to manipulate a blockchain, they would need to alter every individual block across all distributed chain versions — an immensely impractical feat. This is because a blockchain encompasses numerous blocks, often numbering in millions.

Web 3 effectively addresses the issue of centralization. Rather than a small number of centralized entities controlling significant portions of the World Wide Web, Web 3 embraces a decentralized Internet model where authority is vested in individuals instead of corporations.

The concept of ‘Web 3’ was first introduced by Gavin Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum, shortly after the launch of Ethereum in 2014. Since then, it has gained widespread popularity as a term encapsulating the vision for an improved and more advanced internet.

And although it is hard to provide a definite definition of Web 3, a few core principles guide its creation:

· Self-Sovereign Identity: This principle reinstates an individual’s inherent right to possess and oversee their identity. It empowers individuals to have ownership and control over their digital, personal and associated data. Consequently, users have full authority over claims, proofs, and third-party endorsements, enabling them to decide which information to disclose to particular parties. This concept ensures that users identity is not assigned by any authority and is not stored by any custodianship system. Hence, such identity cannot be confiscated or revoked by any centralized entity, whether physical or digital.

With Blockchain technology, users’ identities can be permanent, portable, and compatible across various platforms. It also allows for seamless interoperability. Self-sovereign identity (SSI) empowers users to uphold their personal reputation consistently across different systems and logins. This approach ensures smooth continuity: By attaching data, users can build a comprehensive personal history and develop a highly credible identity over time.

Decentralization: In Web 3, intermediaries become non-essential, enabling direct monetization for content creators and publishers. Blockchain technology allows micropayments to be made directly from readers through smart wallets. This simplifies the process for creators to monetize their work and establish sustainable business models. Additionally, blockchain can be employed for rights management, including ID stamps on published materials to protect ownership rights for creators and publishers.

By leveraging smart contracts, blockchain technology empowers users to establish contractual agreements, leading to substantial reductions in the time and expenses associated with contract creation. Processes become highly efficient, transactions are expedited, and businesses gain enhanced flexibility within the Web 3 environment.

Image credit: Investopedia

· Free Movement of Identity: In the Web 2 era, the inability to transfer digital identities seamlessly between different applications was a significant challenge. Many users found their identities scattered across various websites and platforms.

However, Web 3 introduces a distinctive paradigm. At its core is the “Composable Data” concept, which empowers users to transfer their information across different applications and websites fluidly. This means that regardless of where users navigate the Web, they can carry all their data and assets alongside them.

Through the use of Blockchain technology, users can log into platforms using their wallet addresses instead of conventional email addresses or social media handles. This wallet encapsulates their entire identity and information, simplifying transitioning from one application to another while maintaining a unified identity.

Web 3 strives to advance the Internet in a more democratic and decentralized direction. This is achieved by empowering users and involving them as active participants in the network, leading to fairer monetization and decision-making frameworks on the Web. As a result, the excessive influence of major corporations like Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon can be mitigated, allowing for a more balanced digital landscape.

To be Continued...