Web2 vs Web3

Web2 represents the current internet era dominated by centralized corporations (Google, Facebook, Amazon) that control user data, applications, and monetization. Users are products whose data feeds algorithmic systems and advertising networks. Web3 envisions a decentralized internet built on blockchain technology where users control their data and digital assets through cryptographic ownership, applications run on distributed networks rather than corporate servers, and economic participation is programmatically enabled through tokens and smart contracts. This shift redistributes power from intermediary platforms to users and creators. Example: Twitter (Web2) stores user data centrally and owns the platform, while Bluesky and Mastodon (Web3/decentralized alternatives) let users run their own servers and control their accounts via portable decentralized identity systems. Why it matters for Web3: Understanding Web2 vs Web3 is foundational—it frames why blockchain technology matters beyond speculation, addressing surveillance capitalism, censorship, and data exploitation through decentralized alternatives that prioritize user sovereignty.

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