Web3, the third generation of the internet, is a term that has gained significant attention in recent years. It represents a transformative shift in how we interact with digital technology and the internet. To understand the best way to explain Web3, we need to break it down into its key components, explore its core concepts, and illustrate its potential impact on our digital lives.
The History of the Internet
We might think of the internet’s development as occurring in three phases: Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0, even though there is no clear separation in terms of exact dates and some overlap between them between the transitions. We will learn about the development of various phases in this section.
Web 1.0
Web 1.0 was created at the start of the 1990s. There were HTML-coded static web pages on this version of the internet. Through browsers like Netscape and Internet Explorer, people could search for and locate information in a free and open environment. Sites like WebMD, where users could research medical issues and symptoms, and GeoCities, which allowed users to construct web pages in virtual communities, were launched by this iteration of the internet.
Web 2.0
People started to perceive the internet as more than just an online encyclopedia by the decade’s close. Users now have venues to share knowledge and interact with others thanks to the growth of blogging platforms, forums, and wikis. Therefore, the early to mid-2000s featured the introduction of Web 2.0. Technology corporations used social media’s influence to build an infrastructure that allowed a small number of businesses to hold significant power. These businesses include Amazon, Google, Twitter, and Meta.
What is Web 3.0?
An idea for the following phase of internet growth is referred to as “Web 3.0.” Gavin Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum, a software platform built on a blockchain, coined the phrase in 2014. It was touted as a decentralized future internet that reduced the power of the businesses that control Web 2.0 today, particularly Meta, Amazon, and Google.
Instead of having their data shared with businesses that sell personal information, users should have more control over this version of the internet. The outcome is meant to be a more private and engaging internet experience with enhanced ownership of personal data.
Web 3.0’s Majority-Based Consensus Vision
The Data Democracy
Demystifying data is a goal of Web 3.0. It suggests a different type of architecture that would replace the current centralized computer with decentralized data structures.
A decentralized data structure is made up of a collection of interconnected computers, each of which serves a particular function in the network, such as that of a node, validator, developer, or just participant. Information is accessible to every machine on the network equally, and data is immutable and securely time-stamped to make it transparent to the network.
Privacy and security
Web 3.0 uses encryption to address privacy issues that can arise from data distribution over numerous machines. Only the node with the right key can access the encrypted data because it is stored on the network.
Secure digital identities, a Web 3.0 innovation, also support data privacy. Cross-platform, anonymous, and completely encrypted digital IDs will be used. As a result, unlike Web 2.0, users may be asked if they want to see adverts. Furthermore, advertising will be based on user consent linked to these digital identities.
Data security is further improved by using blockchain technology because there is no single point of failure. Since every node in the network has a copy of the data ledger, carrying out a hack would require the hackers to have simultaneous access to many nodes. Breaking that degree of security is incredibly difficult and expensive; however, it is not impossible.
Governance and Verifiability
To ensure the supply of products and services, our existing governance system leverages legal contracts. However, enforcing these contracts involves a protracted, costly process that involves middlemen at every turn. So, even though a formal contract does offer protection, the system is ineffective and prone to mistakes and delays.
Web 3.0’s trustless governance architecture can address this problem using smart contracts. Smart contracts are open-source pieces of code with terms mutually agreed upon by both parties at the time of their inception. The contract automatically goes into effect when the predetermined criteria are satisfied.
Services are easily enforceable and verifiable when using smart contracts. Using blockchain technology and IoT-enabled sensors, for instance, you can confirm whether an asset has been transported along a complex supply chain.
Similarly, you can obtain services from anywhere worldwide, paying for them instantly and automatically per the contract’s predetermined milestones. If done effectively, this would significantly reduce the cost of auditing transactions and monitoring agreements.
Advantages of Web 3.0
- Decentralization: Web 3.0 is not controlled by any single entity, making it more resistant to censorship and manipulation.
- Transparency: All transactions on the blockchain are public, which gives users more visibility into how their data is being used.
- Security: Blockchain technology is highly secure, making it difficult for hackers to steal data or disrupt applications.
- Ownership: Users own their data and assets in Web 3.0, which means they can control how they are used and shared.
- Personalization: Web 3.0 applications can be more personalized to each user’s needs and interests.
- Efficiency: Web 3.0 applications can be more efficient as they do not rely on centralized servers.
Disadvantages of Web 3.0
- Complexity: Web 3.0 is still in its early stages of development, and it can be complex to understand and use.
- Security: While blockchain technology is highly secure, there are still risks associated with using it. For example, if a user loses their private key, they may lose access to their data or assets.
- Energy consumption: The mining process of securing blockchain networks consumes a lot of energy.
- Regulation: Web 3.0 is still largely unregulated, which could lead to problems in the future.
- Adoption: Web 3.0 is still in its early stages, and it is not yet clear how widely it will be used.
Features of Web 3.0
The characteristics of Web 3.0—ubiquity, decentralization, artificial intelligence, and semantic web interactivity—are best used to explain it. Some Web 3.0 technologies, like blockchain’s decentralized foundation, have already begun to take shape. Other Web 3.0 meanings have yet to be developed, to say nothing of comprehended.
Blockchain technology was created to support cryptocurrencies, the decentralized digital currencies (not governed by a central bank), and is anticipated to be important in Web 3.0. These digital assets, also known as Web 3.0 cryptos, will be used to pay out rewards to customers and service providers, facilitating direct financial transactions without the need for middlemen like conventional banks.
Ubiquity
Being ubiquitous refers to being everywhere. According to Web 3.0, ubiquity refers to the idea that everyone, anywhere, can access the internet using any platform and any device. Digital ubiquity and the concept of equality go hand in hand. Web 3.0 is not constrained if it is widespread. Web 3.0 is intended for the masses, not just a select few.
Anyone can participate in Web 3.0 from anywhere, and anyone can contribute using open-source software. With the introduction of smartphones and more internet access, Web 2.0 touched on this. When a user shares something on social media, it is “everywhere.” With new gadgets and technologies on the horizon, real-time global networking will gain traction.
Decentralization
Web 3.0 proposes a genuinely decentralized internet in which connectivity is entirely reliant on peer-to-peer network connections. This decentralized network will rely on blockchain to store data and keep digital assets secure.
This technique is also used to create decentralized programs (Dapps). Decentralized apps are maintained by a network of computers rather than a single server. Some Dapps already exist that make use of basic Web 3.0 technology.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is important to DApps and shares many traits with cryptocurrency, but its applications are much broader. DeFi allows people to invest, save, and eventually replace pre-existing financial institutions and their top-down operating model.
Artificial Intelligence
Web 3.0 relies on AI to create computers that can comprehend the intent or context of user requests and respond to complex requests more quickly. The main goal of the development of the metaverse is to provide consumers with experiences that feel curated, seamless, and intuitive thanks to the artificial intelligence of the Web 3.0 age, which goes beyond Web 2.0’s interaction.
Machine learning, which uses methods like predictive analytics to identify links and patterns that aid in predicting future outcomes and events, is a component of AI. Machine learning is passive; AI requires an agent to interact with the world and learn about it.
From the user’s perspective, improvements in machine learning may result in improved customer service. With significantly greater accuracy than present standards, increasingly intelligent chatbots can handle several users simultaneously. This cutting-edge technology will also produce the best search results, spot bogus news, and choose just the best information.
Semantic Web
Semantic is defined as “relating to meaning in language or logic.” By comprehending the meaning of language beyond basic keywords, the Semantic Web enhances the capabilities of web technologies to Search and analyze to create, connect, and distribute content.
The design of websites in the 2.0 era is increasingly focused on making them easy for people to read while yet taking search engine optimization into account. With the help of Semantic Web concepts, readability, originality, and interactivity have all been elevated in Web 3.0.
Web 3.0 will significantly expand the possibilities of search engines, platforms, and connections. Instead of attempting to infer meaning from a collection of ones and zeros, keywords, headers, links, and other metadata, computers can comprehend the context and recognize your actual requirements and ambitions.
Is the Semantic Web the same as Web 3.0?
To be clear, the Semantic Web is not the same as Web 3.0. The two ideas are related but distinct from one another. Web 3.0 is not the Semantic Web itself, but it is built on the idea of the Semantic Web.
Tim Berners-Lee, a computer scientist and the creator of the World Wide Web, came up with the definition of the Semantic Web in 2006. A future iteration of the web is described as an “integrated huge space of data” and an “unbelievable data resource” in his definition of the Semantic Web.
In Web 3.0, which also encompasses more diverse qualities like AI, machine learning, decentralization, and peer-to-peer networks, these ideas are taken from the Semantic Web and advanced.
3D Graphics
The user experience in Web 3.0 is addressed on various levels, including the front-end experience or how we perceive what we see on our displays. Websites and services for Web 3.0 typically use 3D design. The most prevalent examples are in e-commerce, real estate, video games, and virtual tours of museums.
Conclusion
Web3 can be best explained as a transformative evolution of the internet, where blockchain technology and decentralized networks empower users with greater control over their data, digital assets, and online interactions. It shifts the internet paradigm from centralized platforms to decentralized, trustless systems, enabling peer-to-peer transactions, self-sovereign identities, and innovative applications across various industries. Web3 is about reimagining the internet as a user-centric, secure, and open ecosystem, fostering transparency, ownership, and a new era of digital empowerment.
FAQs
Q. How do you explain Web3?
A. Web3 is like the next generation of the internet. It’s a decentralized web where users, not big companies, control data and services. Instead of relying on central servers, it uses blockchain technology for security, allowing people more control over their online presence and data. It’s all about putting the power back in the hands of users and creating a more open and democratic internet.
Q. What should I read to understand Web3?
A. To understand Web3, consider reading introductory articles and books on blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized applications (dApps). Resources like “Mastering Bitcoin” by Andreas M. Antonopoulos, “The Internet of Money” by Andreas M. Antonopoulos, and online articles from platforms like Medium and CoinDesk can provide a solid foundation. Additionally, exploring whitepapers and documentation for specific Web3 projects like Ethereum, Polkadot, or Solana can deepen your understanding of the decentralized web. Stay updated with the latest developments by following relevant news and forums within the blockchain and crypto community.
Q. What is the best language for Web3?
A. The best language for Web3 development largely depends on your specific project and goals. Solidity is popular for smart contract development on Ethereum, while Rust is favored for building on the Polkadot network. JavaScript and TypeScript are also widely used for Web3 development due to their versatility and compatibility with various blockchain platforms. Ultimately, the choice of language should align with the blockchain platform you’re working with and your development team’s expertise.
Q. Is Google in Web3?
A. Yes, Google is in Web3. In February 2023, Google Cloud partnered with the Tezos Foundation to bring Web3 technology to its customers. Google Cloud also offers a Web3 startup program that provides funding, resources, and mentorship to Web3 startups.
Q. Why Web3 is amazing?
A. Web3 is amazing because it envisions a decentralized internet where users have more control over their data and digital interactions. It offers increased privacy, security, and ownership of digital assets, fostering innovation in areas like blockchain, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and decentralized applications. Web3 has the potential to empower individuals, promote transparency, and reshape traditional industries, creating a more equitable and user-centric digital ecosystem.
