So, you heard the words “Web 3.0,” and you didn’t even know there was a Web 2.0. Or you mentioned that term to someone else, and they acted like you just referenced particle physics. That’s a more common reaction than you’d think. And, in a way, an apt comparison. Modern tech jargon is notoriously complex, with a lot of terms that relate to other terms that need untangling.
But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to learn—and unspool the complexity for yourself or others. Though there are a lot of terms, the basic idea of Web 3.0, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and more is self-ownership and decentralization. It’s a lot of different pieces of technology with the same underlying concept of not having things be owned by large corporations or governments—and instead owned by you—through the power of computers, math, and other emerging technologies.
And if you can understand that conceptually, everything else is just an offshoot. NFTs are a way to have someone own something and can prove ownership of something, even when it’s entirely digital. Cryptocurrency uses mainly complex math to prove someone has a certain amount of the currency without interacting with a centralized bank.
So, yes, there is a lot of jargon in the Web 3.0 world. Sometimes financial and, more specifically, investing jargon can also creep in, but the core of everything Web 3.0 is decentralization and controlling one’s own assets. If you keep that in mind as the reason why things are constructed the way they are and are willing to search online for definitions of individual terms, you can slowly learn. Articles, videos, and podcasts will become less and less daunting.
Web 3.0 doesn’t have to be scary. It doesn’t have to be overly confusing or like an avalanche of terms. It’s just a new aspect of the world, and, like everything else you’ve learned in life, it won’t seem as frightening after a little while engaging with it.
