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Before the internet was around, libraries were the go-to source for information. You had to physically visit the library, browse through shelves, and often read through pages until you found what you needed.

Maybe you still do this to this day, and that’s okay. But the internet has changed the way we access information, and we see this today. For example, you can easily find information through a simple Google search or a Youtube video.

However, the internet wasn’t always so convenient. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee mapped out a version of what we know as the web today for researchers around the world to share their findings. 

What started off as a project to connect researchers is now a global communication tool.

Since then, the web has evolved quite a bit. Looking back, we can identify different versions of the internet – web 1.0, web 2.0, and now web3. 

Web3 looks at how blockchain technology can enable users to own their content, data, and experiences online. But what does this really mean for all of us?

To understand what has changed and why web3 will change the way we connect with each other, we need to understand how we got here.

Let’s dive into each phase of the web, shall we?


History of the Internet

Web 1.0 was known as the “dot-com” phase. 

This version of the web was characterized by static web pages. It was basically a “read-only” version of the web, kind of like a newspaper, where users could only read content but not interact with it, like leaving comments or liking them. 

**Here’s what people had to say back in the early 2000s about Web 1.0…**

Some saw it as an opportunity for more accessible knowledge, while others believed that the hype would die down with time. 

Does this sound familiar? As an emerging technology, web3 has received a lot of criticism – some of which is fair, but much of it can be non-constructive. As innovations materialize, skeptics and pessimists alongside it. But there are bound to be critics with every great invention.

On the other end of the spectrum, some saw the web as a promising technology that would connect all of us globally and would help us reach superhuman intelligence.

Perhaps you’ll start to see how web3 aims to further connect us and help remove the barriers we face today. After all, it aims to be an inclusive space that brings underrepresented communities into tech and finance, something that previous versions of the web left behind. 

>Fun fact: Supporters of Web 1.0 thought it would help marginalized voices by giving them the same access to information that we have – a way to level out the playing field with a touch of a button. 

Anywho, these opinions on Web 1.0 were formulated during a time when there were many untapped opportunities. A lot of developers were still trying to figure out and shape the future of the web. And as they did, we came to the Web 2.0 era: participating and creating. 

Web 1.0

The second phase of the internet, or Web 2.0, was more than just reading content. It introduced the idea of using the internet as a medium to create, interact, and share content with others. 

The birth and exponential growth of social media quickly marked this phase. 

The era of static web pages was over. Anyone could now contribute to the internet through any means: YouTube videos, social media posts, and so on! 

Here, the focus was all on the user. It was about figuring out ways to make it easy for anyone to join, use, and interact with other users at any time.

This also gave birth to the creator economy. People can now make a living through their creations, meaning you no longer have to share content just for the sake of it. The content you post and share can provide for you and your families.

You can think of Web 2.0 as the username handles you created for different sites or applications, like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. These handles help identify the creators behind the content that is shared with others online. 

Companies like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta are all extremely popular and successful. Millions of people upload content onto these platforms every single day.

However, despite users creating content, these companies still have control over what’s posted and shared with others. If they feel like a post goes against their terms and conditions, they can remove and suspend your account without providing any clear reason or explanation. 

This has happened to several people on the internet, including some of our favorite Youtubers and influencers over the past few years.

Web3 offers a solution to this.

In web3, users have ownership over their data, the content they produce, and the assets they hold. Welcome to the age of data decentralization.


Think about it: you probably have a username on most of the apps you use today, including Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Twitter, Snapchat, Telegram and more.

But you see, to benefit from the second phase of the web, you must follow the guidelines and rules of big companies like Meta (or Facebook back then), Twitter, and Google which run the platforms. You have to create an account to become a part of the social network.

With Web3, the rules are still being shaped and there aren’t ambiguous policies.

Web 2.0

We’re entering the “read-write-own” phase. 

It is the web you’re familiar with, but with a slight twist: a shift from data centralization to data decentralization. Here, no watchdogs or tech giants are telling you what you can and cannot access. It is also much harder to sell or misuse user data.

How is data decentralized in web3? Well, you are no longer creating a new account every time you want to join or be a part of a certain network. 

Think of it like this: instead of having four separate accounts for TikTok, Instagram, and Amazon – all of which own your data since your account is created under their platform – you will just have one account that you can use to jump in and out of any of these platforms. 

Your account is fully owned and controlled by you. It will allow you to access any network without the need to open up a new account for every new website you come across.

So how would you log in? Well, you would use what is commonly called a “web3 wallet”.

Web3 wallets (or just known as “wallets”) and how they work will be covered in a later chapter. 

For now, think of it as your “access ticket” to join, leave and take part in a network. Your wallet is fully owned and controlled by you, and acts like your access ticket to join different types of platforms without creating accounts under them. 

It’s also like a digital version of a physical wallet that you would bring around with you to carry your financial assets like cash or coins. 

Having full ownership of your wallet means you can transact with other users online without needing an intermediary or middleman to facilitate the transaction. 

### End of Chapter Reminder:

Things move pretty quickly here. And both the skeptics and believers you saw in the earlier phases of the web did not exactly predict the internet to be what it is today.

In many ways, it is much more than anyone imagined it to be. 

With a smartphone today, you really have the whole world in your hands.

You can buy a plane ticket, watch a video on how to fix your car, talk to your family on the other side of the world, read the news, check the weather, show friends what you’re eating, and much more.

The internet has already changed the world, and many believe that web3 is the next phase of this journey.

If you do choose to stay a little longer, we’ll jump into the early days of the web3 rabbit hole together.

We aim to help you develop your own opinions and thoughts about the space, and show you how it can change your life or the way you live in the future. 

**Ready to take another step?**




Web3

What is Web3.svg

What is web3? 

Wait, what’s web3? 

The second phase of the internet, or Web 2.0, was more than just reading content. It introduced the idea of using the internet as a medium to create, interact, and share content with others. 
The birth and exponential growth of social media quickly marked this phase. 
The era of static web pages was over. Anyone could now contribute to the internet through any means: YouTube videos, social media posts, and so on! 
Here, the focus was all on the user. It was about figuring out ways to make it easy for anyone to join, use, and interact with other users at any time.
This also gave birth to the creator economy. People can now make a living through their creations, meaning you no longer have to share content just for the sake of it. The content you post and share can provide for you and your families.
You can think of Web 2.0 as the username handles you created for different sites or applications, like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. These handles help identify the creators behind the content that is shared with others online. 
Companies like YouTube, TikTok, and Meta are all extremely popular and successful. Millions of people upload content onto these platforms every single day.
However, despite users creating content, these companies still have control over what’s posted and shared with others. If they feel like a post goes against their terms and conditions, they can remove and suspend your account without providing any clear reason or explanation. 
This has happened to several people on the internet, including some of our favorite Youtubers and influencers over the past few years.
<a class="glossary-term" data-tooltip-id="term-103">Web3</a> offers a solution to this.
In web3, users have ownership over their data, the content they produce, and the assets they hold. Welcome to the age of data decentralization.
Think about it: you probably have a username on most of the apps you use today, including Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Twitter, Snapchat, Telegram and more.
But you see, to benefit from the second phase of the web, you must follow the guidelines and rules of big companies like Meta (or Facebook back then), Twitter, and Google which run the platforms. You have to create an account to become a part of the social network.
With Web3, the rules are still being shaped and there aren’t ambiguous policies.

The second phase of the internet, or Web 2.0, was more than just reading content. It introduced the idea of using the internet as a medium to create, interac...

Web 2.0

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What is the Blockchain?

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Web 2.0

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