WebFREE EP1: Intro to The Series
The world of crypto is often associated with finance and investment. The first thing that comes to mind for most people when “crypto” is mentioned is “cryptocurrency.” Who hasn’t heard of Bitcoin and Doge? The truth is, there's much more to it. WebFree series invites you to look beyond the financial aspect and explore the innovation that is likely to have a significant impact on how society works in the coming years.
“Crypto” is also often perceived as highly technical and complex, but really, it’s just new. Web3 platforms and tools are no more complex than any other financial or just digital tools that you use every day. You don’t need a degree in computer science to start exploring the new Internet. If you figured out your bank’s mobile app, you can figure out web3.
WebFREE will help you navigate web3 and discover its value without spending a dime. From creating your new digital identity and signing up for decentralized social media platforms to enjoying digital art to learning new skills through community-led educational resources. Web3 is like a candy store for the curious.
What is web3, and why should I care?
The current version of the Internet, often referred to as web2 or web2.0, has been serving us for over 20 years now. The term “web2” has been adopted to refer to the phase of the Internet evolution that came when users could write something on the page and for it to be displayed for other users to see, which opened the pathway for the social media boom.
There are several flaws in the way web2 operates that have become more apparent in recent years, including the lack of privacy, centralization, and control by a few large corporations.
Web3 refers to the next generation of the Internet that is built on blockchain, a technology that allows true ownership of digital assets. It is rooted in the idea of a decentralized Internet, and its purpose is to create more open and transparent networks that empower users and allow for new types of businesses. It sounds rather vague, but stick with us. You’ll see how it all makes sense.
The whole business model of web2 relies heavily on advertising, it runs on collecting and selling user data. In recent years, platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Google have faced public scrutiny pertaining to their data management and monetization practices. This has led many users to leave these platforms or limit their usage.
In the early days of web2, Google proclaimed the motto “Don’t be evil.” At its core, this slogan which was later incorporated into Google’s code of conduct, meant the separation of search results from advertising. In 2018 the slogan was removed in alignment with the evolution of the company’s business model. In order to compete in web2, Google had to become, in their own words, “evil.”
The reality is that these platforms provide exceptionally powerful tools. We cannot just stop using them without causing major damage to our businesses and disrupting our lives.
Web3 has adopted the new motto for the new era of the Internet: “Can’t be evil.” The promise of web3, the blockchain-based web, is that we won’t have to rely on anyone’s good faith to act responsibly rather, the structure of the network itself ought to guarantee that participants simply “can’t be evil.”
If you want to dig deeper into why it is blockchain technology that is uniquely positioned to be an answer to so many of these challenges, we recommend you check out this article.
The WebFREE series will introduce you to the practical applications of web3 so that you can test it and see for yourself what all the buzz is about. So make sure to follow us to keep up to date with the series:
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