Evolution of the Web
Similar to last week’s topic, the Metaverse, this installment of the @AVisComing blog focuses on another highly popular (and equally debated) technology — Web3.
But what is Web3? And how does it change our online lives? Well, Web2, the current iteration of the Internet, is all about companies providing products and services in exchange for personal data. Web3, on the other hand, allows anyone to participate and create without monetizing their personal data. The below graphic, while very simple, does a good job of highlighting this distinction:
Source: adamfard.com
Is Web3 really such a big deal?
In a word, ‘yes.’ And to understand why, it’s important to know more about the Internet before its latest incarnation.
Web1, the first version of the Internet, was comprised of basic links and homepages. In fact, many were just pages of text sprinkled with images, making them digital copies of their hard copy counterparts. There was virtually no interactivity.
The current version of the Internet, or Web2, allows users to consume content as well as create their own in the guise of blogs, forums and marketplaces. As this version of the Internet continued to evolve, social media platforms came to the fore to take content sharing and creation to the next level.
The dawn of Web3, or at least its inspiration, is based on users’ realization concerning how their personal data is being used by corporations to create targeted ads and advertising/marketing programs. Which brings us to the here and now, where these mammoth organizations have absolute control over this data and can use it to continue to grow their interests, influence and bottom lines.
A new model of ownership and control.
Web3 literally gives power to the people, or in this case, users. That means we can all participate in how the Internet is managed as well as take ownership of our content and data. Put in a more traditional context, we become shareholders as opposed to merely customers.
These shares, or tokens and cryptocurrencies, represent ownership of decentralized networks better known as blockchains. For users possessing enough of these tokens, they have the ability to influence how the associated network should be run by using their tokens as votes. Here’s another simple graphic that helps us better understand how we’ve used the Internet and our subsequent level of control:
Source: consensys.net
Where does Anime Village come in?
Good question. And one with a pretty compelling answer. Our business model is built upon a few key pillars, first and foremost — providing Anime, Manga and gaming fans with wholly unique experiences.
An extension to this is creating a safe, secure environment for fans to explore their passions, as well as ensuring that they control their data, how its used and finally, have unquestioned ownership over their creations and purchases (such as Avatars, land parcels and NFTs).
While creating virtual worlds that transport you into an actual Anime is no doubt cool, it would merely be a novelty if it wasn’t supported by the ideals and protocols of Web3. When you combine the two, it gives fans a means to experience their passions in all new ways, while also giving them the confidence that their data is safe and their purchases/creations are secure. Now how much fun is that?
media@animevillage.net