Web 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 explained

Introduction to: Web1, Web2 & Web3

Comparison: Web1 vs. Web2 vs. Web3

• Content Creation: Web1 was about consuming content, Web2 is about both consuming and creating content (user-generated content), while Web3 is about owning and monetizing content and data.
• Interactivity: Web1 had minimal interactivity, Web2 introduced dynamic interactions and social networking, and Web3 focuses on decentralized interactions with smart contracts.
• Data Ownership: In Web1, data was largely static and siloed; in Web2, data is controlled by centralized entities; in Web3, data is owned and controlled by users.
• Monetization: Web1 had basic monetization through ads and e-commerce. Web2 enhanced monetization via targeted ads, influencer marketing, and subscription models. Web3 introduces new ways to earn money through crypto, DeFi, NFTs, and decentralized apps.
• Centralization vs. Decentralization: Web1 was decentralized in a technical sense but lacked user empowerment. Web2 is highly centralized, with a few corporations dominating. Web3 seeks to decentralize the internet, putting power back in users' hands.

Web 1.0

Web1, or Web 1.0, refers to the first phase of the World Wide Web, which spanned from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. It was primarily a read-only web, where content was static and created by a limited number of developers. Websites were simple, text-based, and had little to no interactivity. Users were passive consumers of content, with limited engagement beyond reading and basic navigation. There were no social networks, and communication was done through email or basic forums. The primary use cases were information sharing, personal websites, and early forms of e-commerce.

Web 2.0

Web2, or Web 2.0, emerged in the mid-2000s and represents the interactive, social web we know today. It shifted the internet from a static environment to a dynamic and user-driven one. Users could now create content, interact with each other, and participate in online communities. This era gave rise to social media platforms, blogs, wikis, and video-sharing sites. The web became more visually appealing and user-friendly, thanks to advancements in web development technologies like AJAX and HTML5. However, Web2 also centralized power in the hands of a few big tech companies (e.g., Google, Facebook, Amazon), which control vast amounts of data and dictate online experiences.

Web 3.0

Web3, or Web 3.0, represents the next evolution of the internet, focused on decentralization, privacy, and user empowerment. It leverages blockchain technology, decentralized networks, and smart contracts to give users control over their data and digital identities. Unlike Web2, where central authorities control data, Web3 envisions a peer-to-peer network where users own their data and can transact directly with one another without intermediaries. Cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are key elements of Web3. The aim is to create a more open, transparent, and user-centric internet.