What Is Web4? Is It Centralized or Decentralized?

Written by anndylian | Published 2023/01/31
Tech Story Tags: blockchain | web4 | decentralization | internet | web | p2p | peer-to-peer | future

TLDRWeb4 is a term that is used to refer to the next generation of the internet. It is also known as the “more” decentralized web. Web4 aims to create a more decentralized and distributed internet that is controlled by its users rather than centralized organizations or corporations. This is achieved through the use of technologies such as blockchain and peer-to-peer networks.via the TL;DR App

Web4 is a term that is used to refer to the next generation of the internet. It is also known as the “more” decentralized web. Web4 aims to create a more decentralized and distributed internet that is controlled by its users rather than centralized organizations or corporations.

Web4 is characterized by its decentralized nature, which aims to distribute power and control among users, rather than concentrating it in a small group of companies or organizations. This is achieved through the use of technologies such as blockchain and peer-to-peer networks.

Web4 aims to provide increased security and privacy for users, censorship resistance, interoperability, new business models and economic opportunities, increased scalability, and improved accessibility.

Web4 is also associated with the growing field of AI, which has the potential to complement the decentralized nature of Web4 in various ways such as decentralized AI, Federated Learning, Privacy-Preserving AI, Blockchain-based AI, and AI-driven scalability.

Why Is Web3 Less Decentralized?

It is worth noting that Web3 is still in its early stages of development, and it is not yet fully decentralized. There are still challenges and limitations that need to be overcome before Web3 can truly be considered a decentralized version of the internet.

Some of the reasons why Web3 is not fully decentralized include:

  1. Centralized infrastructure: While blockchain networks are decentralized, the infrastructure that supports them, such as servers, data centers, and internet service providers, are still centralized.

  2. Limited scalability: Blockchain networks currently face scalability issues, which limits the number of transactions that can be processed on the network.

  3. Limited user adoption: The majority of internet users are still not using decentralized applications, which means that the network is not yet fully decentralized.

  4. Limited Interoperability: Current Web3 platforms and applications are not yet fully interoperable, which limits their ability to communicate with each other and with the existing web.

  5. Limited privacy and security: Some of the current Web3 applications and platforms do not yet provide the same level of security and privacy as centralized platforms.

Why Is Web4 More Decentralized?

Web4 is more decentralized because it aims to distribute power and control among users, rather than concentrating it on a small group of companies or organizations. This is achieved through the use of technologies such as blockchain and peer-to-peer networks.

Blockchain technology, which is a decentralized and distributed digital ledger, can be used to create decentralized platforms and applications that are controlled by their users rather than centralized organizations.

This allows for more transparency and security in the handling of data, and can also enable new business models such as decentralized marketplaces.

Peer-to-peer networks, which allow for direct connections between users rather than relying on centralized servers, can also contribute to the decentralization of the internet.

This can enable new forms of content sharing, collaboration, and communication that are not controlled by a centralized organization.

Additionally, Web4 aims to provide increased security and privacy for users, censorship resistance, interoperability, new business models and economic opportunities, increased scalability, and improved accessibility, which all contribute to a more decentralized web.

Web4 Is More Decentralized Than WEB3 in Several Ways:

  1. Decentralized infrastructure: Web4 aims to use decentralized technologies such as blockchain, peer-to-peer networks, and other decentralized infrastructures to create a more distributed and resilient internet. This allows for more control and ownership of data by the users and less dependence on centralized servers and organizations.

  2. Decentralized applications: Web4 also aims to create decentralized applications (dApps) that run on decentralized infrastructure, which eliminates the need for intermediaries and centralized organizations to control and manage the applications.

  3. Decentralized governance: Web4 is more focused on decentralized governance models where the users have more control over the decision-making process of the network, rather than relying on centralized organizations to govern the network.

  4. Decentralized economy: Web4 aims to create a decentralized economy where the users can own and control their data, and participate in decentralized marketplaces and other economic activities.

  5. Interoperability: Web4 aims to create a more interoperable internet, where different systems and applications can easily communicate with each other without the need for centralized intermediaries.

Web3 refers to the development of decentralized applications (dApps) that run on blockchain networks, which allows for more control and ownership of data by the users.

However, Web4 builds upon the foundation of Web3 and aims to create a more decentralized and distributed internet that is controlled by its users, and not just limited to decentralized applications.


Written by anndylian | Intergovernmental Blockchain Expert | Best Selling Book Author
Published by HackerNoon on 2023/01/31