The internet has come a long way since its first official inception in 1983. Many people don’t pause to think about its current state or evolution, but the internet is an integral part of our daily lives. Those who rely on the web, like bloggers and entrepreneurs, must consider where it’s going. In this article, we’ll give you a brief overview of the internet’s history and evolution, then discuss what Web 3.0 is and why it’s essential for blogging.
Web 1.0
Web 1.0 (1990–2004) is the earliest version of the internet. Web 1.0 emerged from the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). This project aimed to build a network to expedite access to the USA’s supercomputers. ARPANET became the first global network for digital communications.
At this time, the internet was nothing like what we see today. It was composed of static web pages joined by hyperlinks and lacked the additional details, design, ease of use, controls, and forms of today’s websites. Content sharing was limited, which is why Web 1.0 is often referred to as the “read-only web.” However, Web 1.0 allowed the world to read and share information through blogs, forums, and email communication: the fundamental building blocks of social sharing.
Blogging 1.0
Most Web 1.0 internet users were consumers. There were few content creators, so content availability was limited. Blogging wasn’t popular because it required technical skills to run and maintain that wasn’t accessible to most users. The early web blogs were simple, updated components of standard and common websites. Most experts believe that links.net was the first blog website.
During the popularity of dial-up internet connection (Web 1.0 era), webpages with long lists of comments took ages to load. Needing an efficient way to allow users to comment without slowing down their website, hosts found that a guestbook feature was the solution. It was an efficient way to allow users to post comments without slowing down the website’s performance.
Web 2.0 – The Present
Web 2.0 (2004–now), or the “read-write internet,” is the current era that facilitates interaction between users and websites. Every user is free to become a content producer and can easily connect to their consumers or audience.
Smartphone evolution directly influenced the development of Web 2.0, the “social web.” In 2007, Macworld revealed the first iPhone device, the first mobile phone that offered quality internet browsing in the palm of your hand. As technology improved and became more accessible, social sharing did too, and web 2.0 developed the inevitable power of social media.
User experience developed rapidly. Information flowed seamlessly through evaluation algorithms and online comments. Content became more dynamic and responsive. All of this created rapid, yet volatile, growth for the tech industry.”
Blogging 2.0
The speedy development of tools and applications made blogging accessible to every internet user. As a result, blogging blew up and gave rise to some of the internet’s largest and most-read blogs like The Huffington Post, Techcrunch, and Mashable. Demand for traditional media declined as more and more people consumed news online. Publishers adapted by creating blogs and encouraging journalists to adjust to the online medium.
Web 3.0 – The Future
So, what’s next for the internet?
What you may not know is, Web 3.0 (aka Web3) is already here. It takes Web 2.0 and adds a layer of decentralization and transparency for users through various technologies like blockchain. That means it operates on a technical infrastructure that lets people go online without needing big tech players like Google, Facebook, or the Apple of the world. Instead, individual users can own, manage, and govern parts of the internet themselves.
Web 3.0 is also a possible version of the internet that can use artificial intelligence (AI) and semantic search to improve user experience. With AI and machine learning, computers could interpret information like humans and help us understand and process information.
AI can recognize places, people, events, and products. If AI integration succeeds at the mainstream level, computers will help us intelligently produce and distribute helpful content tailored to individual users. This is why Web 3.0 is often referred to as the “read-write-execute” internet.
Blogging 3.0 — What’s next?
Web 3.0 seeks to bring power back to the user by giving them complete control over their content. In this new decentralized environment, bloggers and consumers own their personal data and control who profits from it. Bloggers won’t need to surrender to large technology companies or closed systems (Facebook, Google, etc.) because they’ll have complete control over their digital real estate, content, and how it’s consumed and shared.
Right now, anyone can become a blogger by publishing content on open source content management systems (CMS) like WordPress. This ability to have complete ownership of your content and transfer it to where you want and how you want it published will be a key attribute to bloggers in Web 3.0.
Bloggers will have enhanced secure data storage and own their subscriber lists. If something happens to the Web 3.0 platform, you won’t lose your subscriber list, and if you want to change platforms, you can take your content with you.
These benefits could in theory increase the earning potential of every blogger producing good content. In this era, there is no cookie-cutter way of profiting from online content. Web 3.0 is an internet that offers better business practices and challenges traditional ways of conducting business, bringing creativity and earning potential to everyone.
The Future is Ours
Over the past 30 years, the internet has changed tremendously, and its growth is not stopping anytime soon. The Web 3.0 era claims to bring autonomy back to the individual to create a free marketplace. Bloggers and content creators will have access to an untapped version of the internet containing endless opportunities. However, bloggers must get creative with their content strategy and vision. To do that, it’s vital to appreciate the development of the online world and understand where it’s going next.