If you’ve spent any time reading about crypto or the future of the internet, you’ve probably heard the phrase Web3. But to understand what Web3 really is — and why people are excited about it — it helps to compare it with what came before: Web2.

Web2 is the internet most of us know today. It’s the world of social media platforms, mobile apps, and cloud-based services. Companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and YouTube dominate Web2. They offer free services in exchange for something very valuable: your data. In this version of the internet, you can post content, but you don’t own the platform. You can grow an audience, but a company controls the algorithm. You can store files or send money, but only through centralized services that can block, censor, or track what you do.

Web3 is trying to change all of that. It’s a new vision of the internet built around blockchains, decentralization, and user ownership. Instead of relying on a handful of corporations, Web3 platforms are run by code and governed by communities. In Web3, you can log in with a crypto wallet, not an email. You can earn tokens for contributing — not just likes or views. And you can move freely between apps while keeping your identity, data, and digital assets.

Think of it this way: Web1 (the original internet) was read-only — you could visit websites but not do much else. Web2 became read-write — you could interact, share, post, and participate, but companies took control. Web3 adds something new: read-write-own. Users aren’t just participants — they’re stakeholders.

This shift also applies to money. In Web2, payments go through banks, credit cards, or platforms like PayPal. In Web3, value can be sent instantly using crypto. Apps can be built without middlemen. Communities can fund themselves with tokens, not ads or VC money.

Of course, Web3 is still early. Not every app is perfect. Wallets and interfaces can be confusing. And yes, scams exist. But the core idea — giving power back to the users — is what’s drawing millions of people in.

So when people talk about Web3, they’re not just talking about crypto or NFTs. They’re talking about a future where the internet is more open, fair, and user-owned. A future where you don’t just use platforms — you help shape them.