At this point I'm probably the only one saying "Web 4". So why do I say it?

First a little history.

Web 1 is the earliest version of the Internet. Web 2 is the second stage of the Internet marked by the rise of social media.

When crypto showed up circa 2015 the cadre of those involved, all on Twitter, decided that blockchain and crypto was the next paradigm shift, thus "Web 3". They touted "decentralization" and a bunch of other buzzwords it turned out they didn't believe in as why.

Web 3 started off to be about blockchain and crypto, it did look promising. I know, I was there. I started in crypto on 2-22-20. I spent all day every day in it for the next 3 years. I still follow crypto closely.

None of what was proselytized turned out to be true.

They promoted decentralization. But yet the entire market for Web 3 took place on Twitter, an enshittified app that's the antithesis of decentralization. They said they were anti-government. But in 2024 the crypto industry lined Trump's pockets to the tune of $200 million. The "degens" all said crypto was going to lift people up, it's a rising tide to lift all boats. These degens turned out to be savvy finance types and math wizards, mixed in with washed up Wall Street traders, day traders, and scammers who exploited the numerous holes in crypto to the tilt.

Crypto turned out to be a rising tide to lift all yachts. Web 3 turned out to be mostly gambling and scams. It takes place entirely on X, now ground zero for the far-right. To have any chance at winning in crypto one must spend their days and nights glued to crypto X, to get the latest "alpha". Family? Touching grass? Not so much. Elon Musk is constitutionality prohibited from being President, but is now running our country. Musk is a leading figure of the far-right.

What's the old saying? "You are the company you keep". In crypto's case, that couldn't be more true.

Today, no one but crypto bros on X cares about crypto or blockchain. If you ask people on the street about crypto, they're likely to say it's a scam - because that's all they read and hear. Or they think it's the domain of the far-right, which is largely accurate.

So if most have a highly unfavorable opinion of crypto, or they align it with Trumpism, how is Web 3 a new paradigm? How is it for the people? It’s not.

In order for a new version number to be assigned to the Web there has to be a true paradigm shift. Something ground breaking. Web 3 is neither. In many ways Web 3 is giant steps backwards. Consumers are less safe, there's zero privacy, crypto is really hard to use, and it's really easy to lose one's life savings.

There's no reason for anyone but crypto X devotees to care about crypto. Because there's nothing that makes people want to use crypto other than gambling or hopium that the price goes up.

Mark Cuban said this about crypto, "What is missing is the ubiquitous app that makes everyone want to use it". So far, Mark, there's no signs of this happening.

I'm not the only one who feels Web 3 is an irredeemable abomination. Molly White has dedicated an website to exposing Web 3's lies, scams, hypocrisy and so much more.

Why I do say Web 4? It's my opinion (maybe Molly's too?) that Web 3 is so unsavory, it should be skipped. I think we should go to Web 4, which will be glorious. Web 4 will be the rise of the Fediverse, decentralized Internet and open web. Maybe crypto comes along? That'd be great. But it's going to need to soak in a bath of miracle cleaner first.