Unveiling the Web 2.5 Documentary: Navigating the Future of the Internet

Forget Web 3.0 – buckle up for “Web 2.5”! The new documentary by team HackerNoon takes a mind-bending journey through the internet's evolution. We travel from the dial-up days to the smartphones takeover and move into the metaverse.

I was able to watch Web 2.5 ahead of its official release and found the almost twenty-seven minute journey entertaining and educational. It gripped me up quickly because this isn't just a boring history lesson. It's a critical look at Web 3.0's promises and whether it can truly revolutionize the digital landscape.

Plus you get a backstage peek at the HackerNoon team in a fun and free manner. I mean how often do you see someone literally roll out of bed and start asking interview questions from a crouched position? Not too often - if ever, but I digress.

Amidst all the noise, buzz words and snake-oil salesman, is Web3 really the future or just a passing trend people are looking to make a quick buck on? - HackerNoon

Overall, Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 represent distinct phases in the evolution of the internet. We’re operating in Web 2.0 now and Web 3.0 is up next. The rails are being put in place with a heavy focus on decentralization, peer-to-peer payments and getting the internet away from the big tech giants. You know the huge centralized entities that control everything from hosting to engagement.

Their strategy is public platforms, private pockets. These behemoths made billions of dollars from user generated content. Then went public and now control our ability to reach the audience we brought to the platform or fans who like our pages and content. Unless we pay more to boost this content or buy advertising to increase our reach. I get it, it’s not personal just business.

Enter the Web 2.5 concept. The HackerNoon film discusses a path. Is there a bridge to get us from where we are now to building a more equitable, individual-centric and democratic global community? This documentary will help you answer the question.

"The internet is a reflection of our society and that mirror is going to be reflecting what we see. If we do not like what we see in that mirror, the problem is not to fix the mirror, we have to fix society." - Clay Shirky

Setting the Stage: Three Phases of the Internet

Let’s take a quick review of the internet evolution. January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the internet. Before this, the various computer networks did not have a standard way to communicate with each other. TCP/IP allowed different kinds of computers on different networks to "talk" to each other. It ushered in an era.

Web 1.0 - The Static Web

Web 1.0 (also known as the Static Web) was the first iteration of the internet. Remember dial-up? Myspace? The glory days of internet forums? You my friend were there for the World Wide Web developed in the late 1980’s by Tim Berners-Lee.

This is when “webmasters” charged per page and per change. Content was “set and forget” because making changes was expensive and time-consuming. Site content would sit for months or even years. (I know it still does for some of you) But back then HTML was new and you needed HTML skills to do anything on your site. Most business owners and end users lacked the time, interest or money to make frequent changes. Some didn’t even bother to jump onboard while others made millions in the same niche.

The internet’s Wild West Era was roughly from 2000-2008. There was a content explosion as Napster (1999), Wikipedia (2001) and YouTube (2005) democratized content creation and sharing. This was a time of dial-up modems, chunky flip phones and the internet's lawless frontier. Social media burst on the scene with Myspace (2003), Friendster (2002) and early blogs (2000s) fostered online communities.

The Wild West Era laid the foundation for the internet we know today. It showed us the power of democratization, the importance of community and the endless potential of online creativity. While the era itself is over, its spirit lives on in the open-source movements, the participatory culture and the ever-evolving landscape of online social interaction.

So, the next time you scroll through endless YouTube videos, get lost in a Wikipedia rabbit hole, or grab your local news updates fromTikTok remember the pioneers who blazed the digital trails. The Napster pirates, the Wikipedia warriors and the Myspace cowboys rode the wild waves of the Wild West Web and left a path for you to follow.

Web 2.0 - The Social Web

The term "Web 2.0" was coined in 1999 by Darcy DiNucci. But the term did not gain prominence until it was popularized by Tim O'Reilly and Dale Dougherty at the first Web 2.0 Conference in 2004 in San Francisco.

Instead of passively consuming content users started actively participating in its creation and sharing. This stimulated more conversations and the exchanging of opinions. It opened the door for more diversity in ideas.

Then from around 2008-2016 Mobile Mania strikes. Smartphones took over and mobile browsing skyrocketed. The social media giants emerged. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram started to dominate communication. This is also when the streaming wars begin.

Netflix, Hulu and Spotify change how we consume entertainment. The rise of the streaming services play a role in the demise of Blockbuster. Slow response to new technologies and consumer preferences also contribute to the video rental giants ultimate demise. At its peak in 2004, Blockbuster reported earnings of $5.9 billion and boasted over 9,094 stores globally, with more than 4,500 of those in the U.S.

The increased participation of users brings us to today: The Age of AI and Personalization. Algorithms personalize everything from news feeds to shopping recommendations. We see the rise of social influencers and content creators. YouTube, Instagram and TikTok provide tools for individuals to become online stars. The new tools and platorms redefine the game of online fame.

Web 3.0 - The Trustless Web

Commonly known as Web3 the future of the internet is built different. It proposes to be decentralized and open. There is a greater focus on reducing reliance on centralized entities and intermediaries. I wrote previously about how Web3 gives us a way to take back control from Google, Meta and other Big Tech.

Instead this web is concentrating on secure and open distributed networks. It incorporates blockchain technologies and token-based economics. In Web3 users will have control of their data. It will be run and owned by its community.

But quantifying the exact number of companies participating in Web3 is tricky. There is no one universal definition and the space is rapidly evolving. Crunchbase’s Web3 Tracker includes over 22,200 companies dedicated to Web3 technologies, with a total funding exceeding $89 billion.

Data from Built In, the online community for startups lists 236 companies actively working in different Web3 fields like blockchain infrastructure, DAOs, crypto exchanges and more.

Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan, a social activist, economic builder and the founder of OIC used to remind us all, “Things take time.” This certainly applies to the internet, tech adoption and viable use cases.

What’s On Web3 Road Ahead?

We have seen that each period of the internet brings diverse trends, innovations and controversies. The conflicts in Web3 include the environmental impact of crypto mining. Problems of scams, hacks and rug pulls in crypto and DeFi. The ongoing scalability and security challenges of blockchain technology.

There are lots of fast moving parts to consider on a global scale.

It’s like a futuristic bazaar where new forms of digital currency and decentralized structures like DAOs emerge, alongside controversies like counterfeit NFTs and blockchain scams.

HackerNoon sits at the intersection of this grand marketplace in many ways. So I asked David Smooke, Founder & CEO his goal for the Web 2.5 documentary.

He said, “We’ve published 15k+ Web3 text stories, part of this was just filming our internal debate on whether or not the internet is going through a revolution. And what that revolution is, or could be. The investors call it Web3, and the average person on the internet doesn't really care what it's called just that their site/app/media works better. Reminds me of the Bon Jovi song, halfway there, living on a prayer. It's ok that we're in the middle of it and not there yet. Also, after publishing 100k+ text stories, it felt good to try out longer form storytelling in a different medium.“

Conclusion

The HackerNoon Web 2.5 is a documentary that explores the evolution of the internet, from its inception to the rise of social media, and questions the future of Web3. It highlights issues with Web 2.0, such as algorithmic extremes, misinformation and paywall-supported publishing.

The film suggests that the internet has become essential to society, serving as a catalyst for change and a crutch for everyday life. Viewers get a behind the scenes look at the HackerNoon braintrust as they discuss and debate these issues in a fun, entertaining and educational environment. It pulls you in and leaves you wanting more.

“We have decided to sell Web 2.5 directly on our own site for $2.99. We need to find some fans and partners if we are going to turn this pilot into a full docuseries about the history, state and future of the internet.“ - David Smooke

So are you ready to have a look? Hit the link to get immediate access. And let me know your thoughts in the comments.