Web2 is the version of the internet that we know and use today. Web3 — Web2’s upgrade — would be
a decentralized network that could shake up our digital world. Read on to find out the key
differences between Web2 and Web3, and what Web3 would mean for you, the user, if we implemented
it globally.
Web2 is the current version of the world wide web (WWW), also known simply as the “web.” It
focuses on static websites, search engines, social media platforms, and online shopping sites.
Web2 is the second internet generation that came after Web1, a non-interactive, read-only web.
Web2 introduced more interactivity and dynamic elements — everything “clickable.” It enabled
users to create and share content and communicate online.
Web2 offers more interactivity, communication, and participation than previous versions of the
internet. Here are the main advantages of Web2:
clickable elements like buttons, links, and forms that allow users to make choices and take
action with a click. You can also create apps with interactive content.
on social media, liking and reacting options — it enables you to communicate online with
anyone worldwide.
and create and share content on blogs, vlogs, and video sites.
knowledge and information on Web2 easy.
make purchases, and reserve services with a few clicks, without having advanced IT skills.
Web2 is convenient, but it has its challenges. Centralized authorities operate e-commerce and
social media sites, which presents these issues:
means a huge user demand can overload servers. Centralized servers are also a security issue
because hackers only need to breach one system to gain access to large amounts of user data.
Centralization also makes it easier for governments and corporations to monitor user activity.
and exploit it for monetary gain. To use an online platform, you have to set up a user profile
with login information via email registration. All of your data ends up in the servers of the
website owner. In this sense, user data is in the hands of the companies, which is a privacy
issue, along with the fact that user activity online is tracked by cookies and tracking
pixels.
information to regulate harmful and dangerous content or for their own benefit. They can block
websites or users on specific websites, monitor user activity, and enforce policies. However,
it raises the question of freedom of expression.
Web3 is the next generation of the internet, an upgraded world wide web version. It is known as
the “semantic Web” or “decentralized Web” because it is based on decentralized technologies such
as blockchain and peer to peer networks. A decentralized architecture allows participants to
access and share resources directly without a central authority.
The main idea behind Web3 is to deliver the internet’s original promise of an open, transparent,
and secure system of computer networks that would bring users together. If we implemented Web3,
it’s main advantages would be:
so users would have greater control over their data, and companies would have to pay to access
it.
eliminate the go-between, making the internet more transparent. Decentralized solutions for
data storage are also more secure.
data. Without a single authority, there would be no inter-platform communication restrictions.
exchanges using cryptocurrencies, decentralized apps, and platforms that do not require an
intermediary.
The main disadvantage of Web3 is its complexity and the computational resources it requires.
Web3 relies on{‘ ‘}
blockchain technology, making
it much more difficult for an average user to understand. Here are the main disadvantages of
Web3:
Therefore, mass adoption is not yet feasible. Web3 requires some knowledge about programming
and a higher level of IT skills, so it would take a lot of effort for newcomers to grasp.
Web2. Some older devices would be incompatible with Web3. Web3 operations would also consume
much more energy.
to handle large volumes of data, which might result in slowdowns and a limited network
capacity on Web3.
frameworks on blockchain networks, which might lead to fraud, money laundering, and other
illegal activities on Web3.
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The key difference between Web2 and Web3 is that Web3 is decentralized. But here is a detailed
table of all the key differences:
Web2 vs. Web3
It might be challenging to understand the practical implications of Web3, because we are used to
Web2. Here are some examples of the different ways you can be affected by Web2 and Web3:
Judging from the direction that the internet is heading in, Web3 could be its future. Web3 holds
excellent potential for continuing to foster decentralization and offer a more user-centric
experience.
The basis for Web3 — blockchain technologies — is rapidly developing, so we may see more
interoperability, seamless interaction, and data transfer between different blockchain networks.
The future of Web3 may also involve a wide adoption of decentralized apps that would offer
decentralized finance, decentralized social media, and decentralized identity solutions.
However, Web3 still has a long way to go to overcome its challenges in some areas, such as
complexity of operation, user experience, regulation, and security before we can implement it on
a wide scale. If all goes well, it still does not mean that Web3 will replace Web2. It is more
likely that we will see an integration of these two, offering more decentralized and
user-friendly technologies.
