From Web 1.0 to Web 3: Understand the Evolution of the Internet in 3 Phases

The internet was not born ready. It went through three major revolutions. Shall we break each one down?

Web 1.0: The Internet That Only Read

In the 90s, the internet was like a giant digital newspaper. You would enter, read text and see images, but that was it. No comments, no likes, no interaction. It was “read-only” — you consumed content, period. Simple, but quite limited.

Web 2.0: The Internet that Became Social

Here comes the 21st century and everything changes. People realized that they could do more than just read. They could participate.

They emerged:

• Social networks: Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter — you can now post, comment, like
• Sharing platforms: YouTube, Google Drive, Instagram
• Wikis and collaboration: Wikipedia (anyone edits)

The internet became interactive. You were not just a reader; you were a creator too. The downside? Your data became a commodity. Meta, Google, Amazon — all the giants live off selling your data. You are the product.

Web 3.0: The Internet That Truly Belongs to You

Now blockchain arrives and changes the game again. Web3 = decentralization + ownership.

Instead of centralized platforms storing your data, now you have:

• Your wallet: Your assets, your keys, your security
• Smart contracts: Agreements that run without intermediaries
• dApps: Apps that run on the blockchain

Some examples that work now:

• CryptoKitties: Unique digital cats that you truly own (NFT pioneer)
• Uniswap: Direct crypto exchange, no exchange in between.
• Brave Browser: Browse without tracking, earn tokens for it
• Golem: Rent your PC to perform heavy calculations on the network
• Augur: Decentralized prediction market

The Great Point

Web 1 = Read Web 2 = Read + Write ( but someone profits from your data ) Web 3 = Read + Write + Own (your data, your assets, your rules)

It's still in development, but the idea is clear: decentralize the power back to you.