You may have heard a lot about Web3, aka Web 3.0, and how revolutionary it will be for internet users. But how many content creators and cam models know what this concept really means and how it stands to impact our brands and business?
LOOKING BACK AT “READ-ONLY” WEB1
Web3 advocates envision this democratization of the internet as heavily driven by blockchain, a digital ledger technology that keeps track of transactions in a transparent way.
To understand where the internet may be going, let’s first take a look back at where it has been. Web1 refers to the 1990s and early 2000s, when content was “read-only” for the most part. That’s because most users were passively consuming site content created by webmasters, rather than participating actively in its creation as they would begin to do during the next phase: Web2.
WEB2: INTERACTIVITY AND DATA COLLECTION
Web2 marks a more dynamic and interactive era of the internet. Companies collected/controlled data from more engaged users, who were encouraged to create online communities and produce user-generated content. We have been in the Web2 phase since the early 2000s, when the emergence of giant platforms like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon, as well as services like Uber and Venmo, brought a centralized and commercial order to the internet. This made it easier to connect, browse, interact and make transactions online; we’ve come a long way since AOL chatrooms or downloading songs through Napster. It also allowed these large companies to harvest data on all of our purchases, interactions and preferences, selling it to ad companies and capturing much of the monetary value created on the internet. User-generated adult content became more common, as users began selling their own videos and streaming on platforms more frequently, but this also opened up creators to online piracy and the redistribution of their content, which diminished income.
WEB3: USER-CONTROLLED AND DECENTRALIZED
That’s where Web3 comes into play. It’s even more focused on users and creators, aiming to evolve the internet from a phase of domination by Big Tech companies with payment for goods and services processed through traditional banking-enabled channels, to a more decentralized and user-controlled phase. Web3 is intended to make data more private, and less of a commodity traded behind the scenes among sites and advertising honchos.
The term Web3 was first coined in 2014 by Gavin Wood, co-founder of the popular cryptocurrency Ethereum, and in 2021 the idea garnered interest among crypto enthusiasts, tech companies and venture capital firms looking to invest in the hottest new thing. Wood hopes Web3 will fulfill the needs of future internet users in a way the current, centralized providers cannot. Advocates of this next phase are also excited to challenge the power of tech giants, wresting back control of online community, creation and commerce.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BLOCKCHAIN
Web3 advocates envision this democratization of the internet as heavily driven by blockchain, a digital ledger technology that keeps track of transactions in a transparent way. Blockchain maintains privacy by hiding the exact identity of people making trades, and enables token-based economics using cryptocurrency.
The decentralized framework is also more developer-friendly, giving more folks a voice in deciding which protocols will govern the movement of data and money — and therefore more influence in shaping the “next-gen” version of the internet.
It should be noted, however, that big companies like Microsoft and Twitter are actively investing in Web3, so they will still be major players in the space. You can also bet that large adult platforms will release features to harness this next iteration of the web, particularly with non-fungible tokens or NFTs, which allow users to sell audio, images, videos, etc. as if they are collectibles, by attaching files to crypto systems.
While it is impossible to predict all of the implications of Web3, one thing seems clear: Given the benefits of private transactions, user-influenced policies and greater content creation ownership, Web3 is poised to unlock adult industry business potential with less Big Tech banning and banking system discrimination.
Sabien DeMonia is a content creator, cam model, head of talent for SugarBounce and an ambassador for both Pineapple Support and Gaming Adult’s “Hentai Heroes.” Follow her on Twitter @Sabien_DeMonia, on Instagram @sabiendemonia_ and find all her links at Linktr.ee/CumAndGetMe.
