It's easy to get confused about Web2 and Web3. The terms have been used in many different ways, and lots of people seem to use them interchangeably. This article will help you understand the differences between Web2 and Web3, as well as some exciting new developments in the world of Web3.
The development of the World Wide Web (Web1) has given way to the Internet as we know it today, otherwise known as Web2. However, the Internet has not stopped evolving and going through changes. We aren’t sure what it will look like yet, but we can make some estimates based on cryptocurrency projects and other things that are already happening in the real world. If this trend persists, the way we use the Internet will change drastically. The truth is that Web3 hasn’t arrived yet, and we don’t know exactly what it will look like when it does.
Web3 is a new version of the internet that takes power and profits from Big Tech companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google allowing it to trickle down to the participants. Dapps are a promising way to create fully functioning, decentralized applications. Web1 is a Dapp that hopes you will join us in creating a fairer and more rewarding Internet.
Web3 Benefits
In Web3, end-users will get complete control and ownership over the data they create—meaning that information can be shared only if a person chooses to share it or has given explicit permission for its use.
Blockchain is a technology that allows people to create addresses and communicate with the blockchain network. They can transfer digital assets and wealth quickly, efficiently, cross-border, and without regard to factors such as income, orientation, geography, gender, or other sociological or demographical factors.
When you use blockchains such as Ethereum, you can be sure that you will get encrypted data and no one will be able to break the rules. This means that intermediaries are not needed.
People have access to data from anywhere, and they can do so using apps on their smartphones. Thus, people can access information from anywhere in the world.
The Internet is a vast and often disorganized place. In its early days, users had to hunt and peck for information and click through a long list of ads, cookies, and pop-ups. But with the advent of Web3, the Internet can now tailor itself to our preferences by recognizing what we want and delivering it faster than ever before.
Web3 Limitations
Web3 is supposed to be the future of the internet, but experts have some reservations about it.
Web3 will be less accessible to less-advanced gadgets and that it will be hard for novices to grasp. Furthermore Web3 will demand faster CPUs and will be incompatible with older devices, which could lead to a lack of accessibility for some users.
Web3 will demand current website owners to modernize as websites and apps that use this web phase become more popular and existing firms will be required to improve their digital services in order to grab the market share. Additionally, it's easier to access one's political and personal data as it's linked and a vast network. The lack of integration makes this web phase less accessible for various users who may not have the right software or steps needed to interact with Web3 apps.
Different top dapps prefer putting little parts of their code because the blockchain is expensive; however, this could lead to security breaches or hacking attacks on those apps if they don't protect themselves properly from cybercriminals who want access to their sensitive information
Examples of Web3
Web3 is all about decentralization. That is, a shift from centralization to decentralization in the way we handle the internet.
Decentralized protocols like Bitcoin and Ethereum are at the heart of Web3 because they allow for people to interact with each other without having to rely on a centralized authority (like an exchange).
Decentralized social networks like Diaspora and Mastodon are also important because they give users more control over what happens with their data and how it gets used.
Decentralized exchange trading markets like Augur are another key part of Web3 because they allow users to trade cryptocurrencies without relying on a centralized exchange like Coinbase or Gemini. Similarly, blockchain-based social platforms like Steemit give users more control over what happens with their data and how it gets used.
OpenSea is one example of a marketplace built on the Ethereum blockchain that allows users to buy and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are digital assets that have unique properties or characteristics (like art pieces).
Note: It's crucial to differentiate between Web3 and Web 3.0. The term "Web 3.0," also known as the Semantic Web, refers to the evolution of the World Wide Web as proposed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The aim of the Semantic Web is to create a framework where internet data is machine-readable, enhancing data integration and accessibility across various platforms.
What is Web2: Definition
Web2 came about after 2004, when the infrastructure that supports Web1 was already established. The Internet went from a read-only medium to one that also enabled users to write; thus static websites offered inputs and even became interactive. Content creation became much simpler as a result, leading to more content creators, especially once blogging became popular. After 2005, the infrastructure supporting the functioning of the Internet continued to grow. As such, the Internet became less expensive and more common; however, more advanced and less expensive computers also contributed to its adoption by everyday people.
Web2 Benefits
Web2 includes many different kinds of services and sites—from hosted services like Google Maps to video sharing sites like YouTube;
from web apps like Google Docs to blogs like WordPress; from social networks like Facebook to wikis such as MediaWiki;
from microblogging services like Twitter to podcasting sites like Podcast Alley;
from folksonomies such as Delicious to content hosting services and more.
These tools are used by millions of people every day, who are able to create their own content for the web or share information about themselves or their ideas with others in ways that were not previously possible (or at least were not widely used).
Web2 Limitations
Web2 is a great tool, but it comes with some disadvantages as well. Here are some of the most important:
Sometimes, Web2 shows different results from what you asked for. It’s not always like that, but it can happen.
Also, sometimes the results’ translations are of bad quality. You may get wrong information if you don’t pay attention to what you read.
The chances of receiving wrong information exist because people don’t always tell the truth online (and this includes fake reviews).
You can’t connect with people without their website or email address, which means that if you want to talk to someone about something specific and private, it might be difficult to find them without those things first (and even then there is no guarantee that they will reply).
Sometimes you catch up with a lack of privacy when using Web2.0 tools because everything you do online could be seen by anyone else who looks into your account history – including companies who want your business! This can lead to fraud and spamming attacks if someone wants something from you badly enough.
Examples of Web2
Hosted services, like Google Maps
Video sharing sites, like YouTube
Web apps, like Google Docs
Blogs, like WordPress
Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter
Wikis, like MediaWiki (Wikipedia)
Microblogging sites like Twitter and Tumblr
Podcasting sites like Podcast Alley and SoundCloud
Web2 vs Web3: Practical Comparison
Web2
Web3
In Web 2, social media networks and gig-economy apps are much more focused on interaction and community development.
Web 3 is the new internet that is more focused on semantic learning and decentralization. It will strengthen the individual users.
Twitter, for example, can censor any tweet or account on its network.
The control of Web3 will be decentralized, so tweets on Web3 would be uncensorable.
Gig-economy apps like Airbnb and Uber have experienced downtime due to server problems that impact workers' incomes.
Web3 servers will stay up as they use Ethereum, a decentralized network of about 1000s of computers as backend.
Technologies in Web 2 include HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and AJAX.
Uses Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and decentralized protocols.
Payment services may not permit payments for specific types of work due to restrictions on the type of content that can be sold through their network.
Web3 payment apps demand no personal data and even can’t prevent payments.
Web2 vs Web3 – Decentralization
Decentralization is the cornerstone of Web3. Decentralized systems are censorship-resistant and can be trusted because they are not controlled by a central authority. Decentralization has significant implications for censorship resistance, trust and the ability to execute contracts in a secure manner.
Web2 vs Web3 – Trustless and Permissionless
Decentralized applications, or dApps, run on distributed peer-to-peer networks. This makes them trustless and permissionless: no single entity is in control, which means the applications are censorship-resistant.
Web2 vs Web3 – Greater Connectivity
In the Web3 future, we will see greater connectivity between digital content than ever before. As more everyday devices become connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), they can access dApps on blockchains.
What are the Features of Web2?
Web2 features allow users to classify and catch up with dynamic information that flows between site owners and site visitors through comments, reviews, and ratings.
Let’s check out more features of Web2:
Rich User Experience
The Web2 uses HTML5, Ajax, and rich user experience to deliver dynamic, interactive content to users. Such technologies enable webmasters to insert dynamic video directly into HTML code, allowing them to provide their users with a richer experience than ever before.
Long Tail
As a result of the widespread availability of online social media, it's possible today to make money by simply being heard. People who have something to say can share their life stories on YouTube or other sites in order to earn money from advertising and monthly subscription fees.
Basic Trust
You can use the content in any way you see fit, including sharing it with others.
User Participation
In this web phase, the user can contribute to the content on the site by sourcing or crowdsourcing new material.
Dispersion
Content delivery can be achieved using a variety of channels, such as permalinks and file sharing.
What are the Features of Web3?
Web3 is the third major version of the World Wide Web, an internet-based system that allows people to browse, read, and interact with information provided by web servers.
Let's look at the main features of Web3:
Semantic Web
Web3 includes the Semantic Web, which enhances web technologies to generate, share, and link content through analysis and search as per the potential to understand what the words mean.
Artificial Intelligence
In Web3, computers will be able to understand language as well as humans do, enabling them to offer information and services that meet users' needs. The machines become smarter.
Connectivity
The features of Web3 include semantic metadata, data portability and interoperability, decentralized applications, and user experience. Semantic metadata is what allows this web phase to function. The result is increased connectivity and a more compelling user experience that relies on all available details.
3D Graphics
In web3, companies will be using 3-dimensional design on their websites and services - eCommerce, computer games, contexts etc.
What is the Future of Web3?
In reality, both sides of the Web2 vs. Web3 debate have a role to play in the future of technology. Some people are hoping for a better internet through the development of Web3 and others are more concerned about where the internet is headed. However, we should embrace both sides and what they can accomplish by adding new features to existing websites instead of trying to kill an idea whose time has come or trying to snuff the entrepreneurial spirit of a global movement where people can build billion-dollar businesses.
Web3 will be much more than just a decentralized version of what we're used to today because it will have many different components that allow users to control their data from many different locations. It will also be completely encrypted so that no one can access it without permission from you first – even if they're using your computer! This means that all communications between parties are secure and cannot be intercepted by anyone else including governments who may want insight into your personal life (or worse yet, corporations who want access to your financial information).
Conclusion
While the Internet we use today is called Web2, it's not really decentralized. Companies like Google and Facebook are dominant in the market, collecting data from users and selling it to advertisers. Web3 is a new vision of the internet that will make this type of transaction obsolete by eliminating centralized servers and giving users the power to control their own data.
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