The Internet is no longer limited to social media and emailing. Today’s internet is smarter, faster, and bigger than ever before. It is a vast network of interconnected devices that are getting smarter by the minute. The future of the Internet looks even more exciting with the emergence of Web 3.0.
Humankind has come a long way since we first connected with each other through AOL chat rooms in the ‘90s, Facebook feeds in the early 2000s and Google searches in the 2010s. With every new technological innovation comes a new version of the World Wide Web. Hence, we can now speak about Web 3.0 – an up-and-coming version of the world wide web that will transform how we use online services as it brings blockchain and decentralised services to our browsers. Let’s explore this topic in detail:
What is Web 3.0?
Web 3.0 is the third major iteration of the World Wide Web. The internet has been an evolving technology since its creation in the 1960s. It’s currently in the third version of its technology stack. The first version was predominantly made up of basic HTML websites, which formed the foundation for what we now know as the internet. As this technology evolved, the rise of mobile devices, apps, and the shift to cloud computing all brought about the second iteration of the internet. Web 3.0 refers to the next stage in the internet’s evolution, which is characterized by the rise of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and a focus on decentralized networks.
What’s Different in Web 3.0?
Web 3.0 is a new iteration of the internet that will be decentralized, open-source and more secure than previous iterations. The way users interact with and monetize websites will be very different in Web 3.0. Some of the key differences between Web 3.0 and Web 2.0 include:
Decentralization of the web:
Open-source technology:
More security for the user:
Better user-friendly interface:
Different monetization approach:
Blockchain: The technology behind Web 3.0
Decentralized apps are applications on the internet that are not controlled by a single group. If a group suddenly shuts down the app or stops making money, the app doesn’t shut down. Blockchain is the technology behind decentralized apps. It is a decentralized ledger that records who owns the tokens and who transferred the tokens. This makes it so that one person can’t access the information of all the token holders. Furthermore, blockchain provides transparency and auditability. This transparency allows everyone to view the transaction history and confirm its legitimacy. Auditability means that the chain of custody can be traced back to the original source. This is critical in stopping fraudulent behaviour such as money laundering and drug trafficking.
Blockchain also provides immutability and robustness by recording an online “truth” about events without the possibility of being changed or forged afterwards. It also offers tamper-proof data storage, as well as greater efficiency through shared computing power.