Comparing Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 Social Networking: Evolution and Revolution
Social networking as we know it today began with the era of Web 2.0. Platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Instagram dominate the social networking landscape today with billions of users combined. While Web 2.0 laid the foundation for interactive and user-generated content platforms, Web 3.0 promises to revolutionize social networking through decentralization. Let's look at the key differences of social networking in these two paradigms.
Web 2.0: The Era of Centralized Social Networking
Characteristics:
1. Centralized Platforms: Platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok and LinkedIn control all user data, content moderation, and monetization strategies.
2. User-Generated Content: Web 2.0 empowers users to create, share, and interact with content. Features like comments, likes, shares and user profiles become standard.
3. Ad-Based Monetization: The primary revenue model revolves around advertising. Platforms collect user data to offer targeted advertising, often leading to privacy concerns.
4. Silos of Information: Each platform operates independently, creating data silos where user information and content remain trapped within specific networks.
Web 3.0: Decentralized and Empowering Social Networking
Characteristics:
1. Decentralization: Web 3.0 promotes decentralized platforms powered by blockchain technology. These platforms aim to eliminate intermediaries, giving users more control over their data and interactions.
2. Tokenization: Cryptocurrencies and tokens facilitate value exchange within decentralized social networks. Users can be rewarded for contributing content, curating information, or engaging with communities.
3. Interoperability: Web 3.0 envisions a more connected internet where data and value can flow seamlessly across different platforms and applications.
4. Self-Sovereignty: Users have greater ownership and control over their data, identities, and digital assets. Decentralized identity solutions ensure privacy and security.
Web2 vs Web3: Competition or Cooperation?
Which platform is better? The main benefit of Web2 social platforms is the breadth of information and content available as well as the massive number of users which lets users learn and engage with others easily. Web3 social networks provide more control and sovereignty to users, but they still lag behind Web2 platforms in terms of content and users.
Today, users continue to use both Web2 and Web3 social networking platforms for different benefits. Web2 social platforms give users access to more information, content and interaction with other users. Web3 social platforms provide more control and ways to monetize their content. The increasing demand for greater sovereignty will eventually push Web2 platforms to evolve and resemble Web3 platforms, but right now users will still have to use multiple platforms to reap different benefits.
CNS: Bringing all Social Networks Together
As a multi-platform user, managing and sharing data that is fragmented across different social networks can be challenging. CNS provides a seamless solution for users to aggregate all their social network information onto a single platform, with full control over personal data through a decentralized data registry. With CNS, users can share their social network information with friends through a single link or QR code scan, making it easy to identify and find them across any social network.
Conclusion
Web2 social networks revolutionized user-generated content, interaction, and community building on centralized platforms with great success and it is safe to say almost everybody in the world today is engaged in a Web2 social network platform.
On the other hand, Web 3.0 promises to redefine social networking by leveraging decentralization, blockchain technology, and user empowerment. By prioritizing transparency, privacy, and interoperability, Web 3.0 social networks aim to create a more inclusive, secure, and innovative Internet ecosystem.
While Web2 social platforms have a larger market share today, the paradigm is always changing as the needs and wants of users evolve. Web3 social platforms are quickly catching up and will undoubtedly force Web2 platforms to evolve to remain competitive.
About CNS
Cardano Name Service (CNS) is a platform for social networking on the Cardano network, empowering users to build their social presence, with .ada domains acting as gateways to their social identity. CNS uses a decentralized domain registry to scale efficiently while preserving security. Our unique data architecture ensures users retain full ownership of their CNS domains and the data associated with it.
With a unique and identifiable CNS domain linked to each user’s identity, DAOs, projects and companies can find new ways to identify active community members, reward participation and issue verifiable credentials, opening up more opportunities to build a stronger and connected organization.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNSCardano
Resolver SDK: https://github.com/cns-space/cns-resolver-sdk
