With all the hype surrounding Web3, it’s very easy to get sucked into the mania and just anticipate this evolution of the internet without necessarily questioning it. Things are even easier when you don’t necessarily have a background in tech to help guide you through the specifics of evolution.
Regardless of whether you understand Web3 or not, the truth of the matter is that it is coming. The entire internet as we know it will change, and it all starts with some of the protocols we can already see. But, what kind of change can we expect when Web3 eventually comes?
An overall shift in control
One of the main propositions of Web3 is the opportunity for people to control every aspect of their online presence.
Today, the internet’s landscape is filled with gatekeepers. These are the platforms that make things possible. If you want to publish video content, you have to go to YouTube or social media. If you have something to sell, Amazon is your best bet. And on and on it goes.
These gatekeepers eventually take a cut of your profits when you’re on their platforms. In some cases, they could even pay paltry sums for your content, essentially leaving you with peanuts for a change.
With Web3, these gatekeepers will be no more. Creators will be able to earn good money from their content, and people will be able to have better freedom of choice when it comes to selecting what platforms they want to work with.
Better user control for data
The most prominent thing that Web3 promises is improved access and control of your data. In fact, it is one of the core principles of Web3 and the protocols therein.
Today’s internet is ruled by a handful of companies and platforms. These companies control all of the data that we release, and they hold immense power over interactions and general life.
Keeping your data in the hands of anyone is bad enough. What’s worse is that a lot of these companies have already proven themselves to be unable to handle our data the right way. Whatever big tech platform you can think of right now, there’s a high probability that it’s been hacked at some point. So, there really is no incentive to trust any of these companies or platforms with your data.
Web3 hopes to put an end to this trust requirement. Instead, everyone will be able to own their data and control who gets to see it.
For a perfect example of this, consider the
Among other things, the Super Protocol ensures that there is complete censorship resistance on its platform. It also offers full data control to the users, essentially allowing you to govern who gets to see and use it. As Web3 becomes more prominent, platforms like the Super Protocol will take the charge.
The focus on user data control has been one that tech companies understand. They know they’re ill-equipped to handle vast amounts of data, and Web3 promises to bring a change to the way we view this problem.
Automation and self-learning
Another critical component of Web3 is machine learning - the concept of computers becoming smarter and optimizing themselves. Already, we’ve seen great strides in machine learning and artificial intelligence. However, both concepts have had limited roles in human life so far.
Web3 hopes to build on the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The premise is simple - machines are a vital part of human life, and they need to grow to a level where human input isn’t necessarily important for them to work. Of course, this also means improved convenience for everyone else.
Imagine you live in a world where everything happens automatically. Your house is smart enough for you to barely do anything, and you go to work in a self-driving car. Your mobile device is also much better at anticipating your needs and getting things done. All of these and more are possible with Web3, and advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence should get us there.
Decentralization - in just about everything
Proponents of decentralization have sworn that it will be the future of everything we do - primarily because decentralization is a significant proposition for cryptocurrencies, and cryptocurrencies themselves have become mainstream.
However, decentralization shouldn’t just be confined to crypto. Digital assets already changed the way we view money and process transactions, and they could do even more. But, decentralization could be much more than just money - it could be multiple facets of existence.
Decentralization promotes community control. And in a world where companies are looking to find ways to get their users and customers more involved, this doesn’t seem like a bad way to run a firm.
Today, we’re seeing an emergence of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) - companies where critical updates are thrown out to the community for a vote. In a DAO, everyone has a voice. The highest vote eventually carries the day.
This push towards decentralization is expected to give more power to people. Companies understand that no one knows how to serve their customers better than the customers themselves. So, they offer you an opportunity to have a say in their operations.
Web3 is coming
There’s a lot of hype surrounding Web3, and it’s easy to accept everything at face value without necessarily questioning it. However, Web3 is coming with an overall shift in control, better control of user data, automation, self-learning, and decentralization.