As time has passed, the internet has experienced several stages of development, from simple static pages to today’s decentralized networks, each stage changing our lifestyles and work methods. This article will explore the three main eras of the internet: Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0, analyzing their characteristics, impacts, and future trends. To understand Web 3.0 and what it can bring to ordinary people, we first need to have a certain understanding of the development history of the internet.

 The Birth of the Internet

In 1967, the US government launched “ARPANET” (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), marking the birth of the internet. ARPANET was initially a small network composed of military contractors and universities, aimed at achieving data exchange and sharing.

At that time, there were not many ARPANET nodes, mainly concentrated at several well-known universities such as the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These nodes exchanged and transmitted data through the ARPANET network, laying the foundation for the embryonic stage of the internet at that time.

Web 1.0: The Information Browsing Era

Web 1.0, known as the “read-only” era, emerged in the early 1990s. In this era, internet content was mainly static, and users primarily consumed information passively rather than actively participating in or generating content. Websites were typically static HTML pages, information delivery was one-way, and user interaction with the pages was limited. During this period, websites primarily served as online brochures for companies, providing company information, product introductions, and contact information.

Web 2.0: The Era of User Engagement

Web 2.0 marked a significant turning point for the internet, beginning in the early 2000s. The internet in this era became more interactive and social, allowing users to participate more actively. Users could not only consume information but also create content, share opinions, and build communities. Web 2.0 applications such as social media, blogs, and Wikipedia emerged, allowing users to share their lives, express opinions, interact with others, and form new online cultures and social patterns.

Web 3.0: The Decentralized Future

Web 3.0 is seen as the next stage of the internet, with core principles of decentralization, transparency, and user control. Through emerging technologies such as blockchain, smart contracts, and distributed storage, Web 3.0 builds a decentralized digital world where users can autonomously control their data and identity, participating in a network ecosystem not controlled by centralized institutions. In Web 3.0, users enjoy higher privacy protection, and data is more secure and trustworthy, profoundly affecting people’s digital lives and digital economy.

The evolution of the internet continually drives technological and social development, bringing new challenges and opportunities with each era. The information browsing era of Web 1.0 laid the foundation of the internet, the user engagement era of Web 2.0 changed the way we interact with the internet, and the decentralized era of Web 3.0 will build a more open, free, and democratic digital world.

In the development of Web 3.0, ONEBIT plays the role of a Web3 value investment accelerator and incubator. As a pioneer in the Web 3.0 field, ONEBIT focuses more on finding and investing in high-quality Web 3.0 projects, providing them with the necessary resources to accelerate their growth. ONEBIT’s innovation lies not only in its technology but also in its precise market predictions, emerging in the fourth quarter of 2023, coinciding with the bull market of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, further driving the progress of Web 3.0 throughout the market.Through deep involvement and community development, the emergence of ONEBIT also heralds a more autonomous, secure, and interconnected digital future.