Differences between Web2 and Web3
They say change is the only constant thing, and right now, the most sizable change to how we interact with the Internet is web3.0. In this article, I’d try to articulate the incoming changes, why we should make them, and if it’s worth the effort to change what many people would consider works appropriately at the moment.
A short history of the Internet.
Web1.0 - a stream of information.
Web1.0 refers to the first iteration of the world wide web (www) when it got introduced in 1991. It was also known as the read-only web and was designed to be more consumer-focused. Content creators were few, websites then were static pages and had no means to interact with users.
Web2.0 - interaction and social web.
The current version of the Internet as we know it, less static and more dynamic. It was introduced in 1999, during the dot-com boom. Over the past 15 to 20 years, the bland web pages of Web 1.0 have been completely replaced by Web 2.0’s interactivity, social connectivity, and user-generated content. This paradigm shift improved the way we accessed and consumed content that was spurred on by innovations such as mobile Internet access and social networks, as well as the near-ubiquity of powerful mobile devices like iPhones and Android-powered devices
The advancement of Web 2.0 created opportunities for the development of key innovations like Social media platforms, mobile phones, mobile internet, etc. Also, we see tech giants like Meta(Facebook), Twitter, Google, Netflix, etc become dominant powers in the business world today.
Web3.0.
Web 3.0 represents the next iteration or phase of the evolution of the web/Internet and potentially could be as disruptive and represent a paradigm shift as Web 2. Web 3.0 is being built upon the core concepts of decentralization, openness, trust, and more user utility. It promises a lot of modifications to how we use the web and interact with it among several paths. In this, data isn’t owned but instead shared, where services show different views for the same web / the same data. Web 3.0 plans to achieve its lofty goals through a set of defining features that includes the list below.
Decentralization: Decentralization is a core tenet of Web 3.0. In Web 2.0, computers use HTTP in the form of unique web addresses to find information, which is stored at a fixed location, generally on a single server. With Web 3.0, because the information would be found based on its content, it could be stored in multiple locations simultaneously and hence be decentralized. This would break down the massive databases currently held by Internet giants like Facebook (now Meta) and Google and would hand greater control to users.
Companies like Nestcoin are already leveraging decentralisation to build products that are democratising access to economic opportunity for everyday people in frontier markets.
Trustless and permissionless: Another way in which Web3 provides a more democratic system is that there are no restrictions on who can be part of the network neither users nor suppliers will require authorization from a governing body in order to participate. Services are available to everyone, and individuals can influence the networks based on the value they provide. You can be an investor, developer, or marketer and help the network succeed with your unique skills and output.
Secure peer-to-peer (P2P) network: Web3 gives users the ability to connect, transact and share data privately and without relying on a third party. With Web2, every time you interact with the internet, copies of your data get sent to the data servers, and you no longer own it exclusively. P2P can be explained as a group of computers that are linked together with equal permissions and responsibilities for processing data. There is no centralized server while the management of transactions and the issuing of tokens is carried out by the network rather than a central authority or bank.
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Advantages of Web 3.0
- Data is decentralized, therefore it’s difficult to get hacked.
- Users are able to control the usage of their data and can earn from it.
- Users are able to interact uninterrupted without a middle-man (trusted)and authorization (permissionless). Therefore, Web 3 apps will run on blockchains or P2P networks, or Dapps.
- Web 3.0 content is more connected and can be accessed using multiple applications.
Potential Challenges of Web 3.0
As progressive as Web 3.0 is, it still has some faults. These are some major problems with Web 3.0 that needs to be tackled:
- Size and cost: The internet is massive and so creating a system that can read, understand and interpret that much data is challenging, not to mention expensive.
- Inconsistency and uncertainty of data: There is inconsistent data all over the Internet which can lead to logical contradictions and make data analysis very difficult.
- Adoption: Internet users are a mixed bag, and although some will embrace the forward-thinking Web3 ideology, many are likely to be put off by its complexities — technology generally deals with change better than a human being.
- Devices: less advanced devices may not be able to handle Web3, which just adds to the adoption challenge.
- Dangers: bad actors could leverage some of Web3’s strengths to get around restrictions on their activity, and while decentralisation can still rely on community power to intervene, this process will be very different from traditional governance and take getting used to.
Key Takeaway
Let’s end with a reminder that Web3 doesn’t really exist — yet. There is no general agreement on it, but we can recognize that it’s a combination of permissionless, transparent systems that can decentralise power from central authorities and solve problems of the internet. Let’s face it: there must be a better way than constant cookie permissions and banner ads.
If you’re curious about how to start working with Web 3.0, Zuriteam has introduced BlockGames — an 8-week program where you'd learn how to build on the most popular blockchains.
Thanks for taking out time to read about Web 3.0, leave a comment if you’d love to talk more about blockchain technology and Web 3.0. Bye 👋
