Web 3.0 (a.k.a. Internet 3.0 or Web3) is the term used to describe the third iteration of the Internet. The Web3 concept postulates that the next version of the Internet will be powered by Blockchain and decentralized, as opposed to the current version Web 2.0, which even though it’s social and accessible is still largely controlled by a small group of companies.
The concept of Web 3.0 is currently in the idea phase, but the buzz around this concept plus the power of decentralized technologies like blockchain and token-based economics, as well as investor support, make it a worthy discussion for forward-thinking technologists.
What about Web 1.0 and Web 2.0?
The first version of the World Wide Web refers to the initial internet itself which launched in the early 1980s. In this early Web, there were a relatively small number of commercial content creators who published basic web pages to be read by the vast majority of users.
The second and current version of the Internet, Web 2.0 (a.k.a. the social web) refers to the evolution of the Internet in the early 2000s, wherein the internet shifted to more interactive, user-generated content. In Web 2.0, users could go beyond simply reading web pages to commenting on articles, creating and managing social media profiles, and self-publishing websites with the advent of user-friendly content management systems like WordPress.
What does Web 3.0 mean for IT pros?
Web 3.0 is still a buzzword right now, but so was Web 2.0 in the late 90s before becoming the standard in the early aughts. Web 3.0’s take over of the Internet is a longshot, but the technologies it touts will definitely have a place in information technology and business, and thus the workforce at large for years to come.
To capitalize on Web 3.0 and the tech it represents, career-minded professionals should learn more about subjects like Blockchain, the metaverse, and NFTs.
IT careers that stand to capitalize the most from Web 3.0 include web developers, full stack developers, cloud engineers, blockchain developers, and software engineers.
