Differentiating Web 2.0 and Web 3.0
The term Web 2.0 is not a strange term to anyone in the tech space, although, to an average person going about their day paying no mind to technology, it might not be a familiar term. For a while now, the trending words in the tech space are Web 3.0, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Metaverse, and especially NFTs, which has been the thing in vogue nowadays. What do all of these mean and what are the main factors that makes it easy to distinguish between what Web 2.0 is and what Web 3.0 is?
The Internet
Before we dive into how to differentiate between these two, it is of utmost importance to have an understanding of what each of them mean, and I am very sure you are wondering, “what about Web 1.0?” Of course! There was a Web 1.0 before the advent of Web 2.0 and now Web 3.0 that has been making waves. Let’s get into it!🚀
Web 1.0 refers to the first phase of the worldwide web. The introduction to ‘WWW’. A phase where creators were limited and contents were static. The first generation of the internet where information was only given and there was little to no participation from the users. It was a one way flow.
I know what you are thinking. “How boring!” Exactly my reaction too. The Gen z audience would be bored to death in that kind of situation.
Luckily, in the year 2004, Tim O’Reilly and Dale Dougherty, popularized the word ‘Web 2.0’ which was coined earlier in year 1999 by an expert in User Experience, a Web Designer and an Author named Darcy DiNucci, who already predicted the influence Web 2.0 will have on public relations. This was the beginning of the adoption of the word Web 2.0 and the paradigm shift in how the internet was used.
Web 2.0 is the second generation of internet services. A free and dynamic place on the web where Users were given freedom. Freedom of participation, interaction, contribution and collaboration. Here was the advent of social media and the beginning of user generated contents. User Experience was starting to make sense and was put into consideration. This drove the innovation of several powerful devices like mobile phones with internet services which in turn lead to the massive adoption of the web 2.0 and the development of several applications which have taken over our world today. Think Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, YouTube, etc.
This is to say that the internet presently at large is what we call the Web 2.0.
Web 3.0, aka ‘the coolest people’s thing’, aka ‘the future of the internet’, aka, I’m just joking.😊 It’s a new world, and we are all waiting to see how it plays out.
Web 3.0 is basically the third generation of internet services. It is referred to as the autonomous, intelligent and open internet. It centers around 4 main pillars: Semantic web, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, Artificial intelligence and 3D visualization.
Also, Web 3.0 is big on decentralization, that is, transfer of authority from organizations to the public. Currently, Web 2.0 operates with powerful corporations like Google, Apple, Facebook, twitter, behind the scenes. What ever they Say or want goes and Web 3.0 brings an end to that.
So, with the understanding of what both Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is, how can we differentiate them?
- Centralization and Decentralization
Just like I mentioned before, Web 2.0 is largely governed by corporations and technological giants who are in charge of your data and your personal information is in their hands and they can use them for whatsoever they want. Web 3.0 puts an end to this because it is decentralized web, with no one in control. With web 3.0, individuals can control their data with no surveillance whatsoever.
2. Web 2.0 is community focused while Web 3.0 is individual focused.
With Web 2.0 came the advent of social media with it’s point being interaction between people and communities and this has been the main theme of web 2.0. On the other hand, Web 3.0 focuses mostly on the individual. Every content is tailored according to the preference of an individual, accommodating their specific needs.
3. Web 2.0 is characterized buy mobile and web applications while web 3.0 is characterized by smart applications.
Our web of today (web 2.0) is mainly web applications and mobile applications built for computers and mobile devices but the web 3.0 is going one step further, with 3D visualization and goes beyond just computers and mobile devices, with it’s applications built on the blockchain, called dApps (Decentralized applications) and smart applications based on Artificial intelligence and Machine learning.
4. Trust and Permissions
Web 2.0 operates with users having to read some long privacy policies and check several boxes giving this permission or that permission, but Web 3.0 is trustless and permissionless in that there is no governing body or any trusted intermediary and so users can interact without the interference of anyone.
5. Financial Services
In web 2.0, financial services can be restricted due to one reason or the other, with banks giving excuses about networks and servers, but in web 3.0, there will be no reason for a delay or obstruction in transactions. Payments requires no personal data and so it is very seamless.
CONCLUSION
We have been able understand the concept of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 and how they differ. This is just a short summary of both terms and in reality, both Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 have a role to play in the shaping the future of technology. With Web 3.0 being the word on every lips, I can’ t begin to imagine the change that will occur in the next few years and how web 3.0 will be adopted in different sectors of life. Also, I would love to see a positive change in the User Experience of Web 3.0 applications, because that would go a long way in the adoption of Web 3.0 by many users.
I am still in the process of learning about Web 3.0 and I am earnestly looking forward to what the future holds… 👋
