resource: timeRoland Legrand, translator
Digital world anthropologist and futurist Brian Solis is optimistic about attempts to reform the web, making it more decentralized and empowering users. However, he warned that this so-called web3 must first pass through a “valley of disillusionment.”
The network is now ready for the third version, network 3, a movement to decentralize the internet and give users more control over their data and possessions. Blockchain plays an important role in this, the technology keeps track of property and transactions in digital registers.
It’s a response to Web 2.0, social media networks, and large internet companies that collect and control vast amounts of user data. When it came, the promise was that everyone could express themselves online. Solis was certainly positive at the time, but that assessment has changed. “I believe Web 2.0 will democratize information and give everyone a voice,” said Brian Solis, a global innovation evangelist, anthropologist and futurist at US software company Salesforce.
The good side of social media is that it does give us a voice, but it’s also the bad side. This also led to discord. I didn’t expect society to be so vulnerable to manipulation and disinformation,” Solis said.
Social media also fuels addiction by encouraging you to do more on their websites and apps based on the number of likes and followers.that is a
It’s an unhealthy relationship with technology that creates a false sense of the meaning of life. No one likes hearing about their addiction, but we need to do more about this problem, and we need government help to do that,” Solis said.
promise
Web3 should be an alternative. The promise of web3 is that you’ll be in control of your data and how it’s used, not that it’s in the hands of a few big companies that control all of this information,” Solis said. But, he went on to say, ‘That’s the promise, we just Haven’t seen it yet.
Currently, Solis points out, there are huge differences in web3 systems. 80% of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) market value is concentrated in 9% of accounts. Such tokens are proof of ownership on the blockchain of digital objects and became a real hype last year. The high concentration of ownership in the production of cryptocurrencies is also evident. 0.1% of Bitcoin miners account for half of Bitcoin’s “production”.
“Also, getting started with web3 is very difficult,” the futurist said. “You have to have a digital wallet, buy cryptocurrencies like bitcoin or ethereum, then use that to buy NFTs, and then have to store the NFTs securely. We can complain about traditional banks, but they provide a solid experience. web3 user experience Will improve, but is currently a big hurdle.
At the same time, cryptocurrencies have come under intense pressure, with several coins having significantly decreased in value (in USD terms) since the beginning of the year. According to American venture entrepreneur Kevin Ross, this will discourage projects that are solely focused on making money.
Rose is focused on the substructure of web3 that transforms us from ordinary users to stakeholders,” said Solis. The digital anthropologist cited research firm Gartner’s hype cycle, which describes how a technology can go from inflating expectations The peak descends to the “Valley of Disillusionment”, then rises to the slope of understanding, and finally ends up in productive use.
disillusioned
For web3, Solis believes that “we are at the beginning of a journey to the valley of disillusionment. Crash, loss of trust and scams may be part of that”. But eventually, useful items will emerge and provide a better user experience. “We’re not going to see this tomorrow or next year, but in the next five years. It’s going to be an experience we can’t imagine.
People already understand that cryptocurrencies have some value and that you can own NFTs, but that doesn’t tell them the importance of having a digital wallet to manage your own data. This data can also include your social contacts, which is a whole new thing. In other words, understanding and using web3 takes some effort. Entrepreneurs, users and politicians will have work to do to take advantage of new possibilities and combat the ills of web 2.0.
