Both web3 and web2 are misnomers that sends discussions into every possible direction.<p>They are misnomers because of the word "web". The original meaning of "web" was for it to be one of many applications on the underlying internet. Another application could be FTP, telnet, Gopher.<p>As such, web2 is an imprecise term because it is a conceptual change not restricted to web technology. It's the internet becoming a two-way street, rather than mostly read-only for the typical user. When you post some content using a mobile app, that's "web2", even if not a single web technology is used end-to-end.<p>And to add to the confusion, "web3" is specifically a response to the 2nd phase of "web2": the centralization of content discovery and monetization. The well known big tech gate keepers that slurp up all content, your private data, put ads on them, and this way become filthy rich whilst content producers get nothing. Some content producers may get a piece of the pie, but terms may change or they may just kick you off the platform. Not even by a human, by AI. And they won't even bother to tell you why. Likewise, app store owners can just take 30% of your business, dictate how you do business with them, and get sole access to your customers' data. Gatekeepers may also arbitrarily decide what is allowed speech and what isn't.<p>I could go on, but the issues that come from "web2" monopolies are well known, and nothing new. Most people are in agreement that they are serious issues, all the way up to governments.<p>As such, it's sad that a movement that has the potential to make somewhat of a meaningful change, namely "web3", is met with such ridicule. Just because it has the trigger word "crypto" associated with it.<p>It's truly anti-intellectual and lazy to not even acknowledge the problems with "web2" and to just decide in a heartbeat that "web3" is a scam. Because you read the word "crypto".<p>Meanwhile, "crypto" adds 100M new users every year, and accelerating. VCs, including the ones behind this website, are throwing everything and the kitchen sink at it. Whilst you laugh at NFTs, musicians, car manufacturers, event organizers and sports teams are embracing it. Crypto-assets backed gaming is about the enter the hype phase. Facebook is throwing tens of billions into the metaverse with the idea to make it compatible with leading blockchains. Twitter is integrating Bitcoin payments and verified NFTs, as well as working on some decentralized social network.<p>At what point do you stop to wonder...maybe something's up with this crypto thing? I'm not here to sell you crypto, as clearly this community has made up its mind and thinks it's about "too much javascript". I'm here to tell you that you dramatically underestimate the speed at which it develops, is normalized and becoming mainstream.<p>Be skeptical, but not a fool.