The world is evolving, and the internet is not how we have always known it, thanks to web3 and the metaverse. Although the internet is evolving into a different stage and generation, because of these two things, they are not quite the same.

Both Web3 and the metaverse depend on the use of blockchain technology. Web3 is the new generation of the internet, while the metaverse brings about a new way to see the world and interact with each other.
Let’s dive into their definitions before we look at some key differences between them.


What is Web3?
The internet we use today is entirely different from how it was 10 years ago; this is because new generations of the internet have come and gone, and the new generation- Web3, is slowly coming to light.
In the past, we had Web1, then web2 and now Web3. Let’s explain them one by one.
Web1 was the first generation and the earliest form of the internet. It consisted of only static pages and was referred to as read-only as it was only for the use of people to look for information and not contribute. Web2 came about, and this generation brought about people actively contributing to the internet as it became a participative social Web. Web2 brought about blogging, commenting, social media and more.
This brings us to the latest generation of the internet- Web3. The semantic web converts web technology into a tool for creating, sharing, and connecting content utilizing search and analysis. Web3 is based on the understanding of words instead of just numbers and keywords with the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Combining these concepts with Natural Language Processing (NLP) will result in a more innovative and responsive computer using Web3.
With this generation of the internet, users have control over their information and content, and they can decide to trade them without losing ownership, risking their privacy or relying on intermediaries.


What Is The Metaverse?
This is a concept of an online, continuous 3D universe that brings together numerous virtual spaces. With the metaverse, users to work, meet, game, and socialize with each other in these 3D spaces.
It uses virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain technology, and concepts from social media to create spaces for users to interact, mirroring the real world.
In the metaverse, each user will be represented by a character or avatar while controlling them. With these avatars, users can interact with other people, go shopping, buy land, buy houses, play games, attend events and more!


Web3 vs The Metaverse: Is There Any Difference?
With the definitions of the two terms given above, you can probably point out that although these two might be connected in a way, they are not the same.

The metaverse uses web3 in a way that you need the internet to access the metaverse, and the generation of internet used is web 3.0.

Another significant difference is that with the use of Web3, the ownership of users is decentralized, and they have control over the web. But with the metaverse, there is a shared online environment which allows people to interact, create economies, and engage in real-time communication regardless of ownership.

The metaverse uses technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and cryptocurrencies. On the other hand, Web3 is built on blockchain and digital currencies. This is due to the structure of Web3, which is decentralized, and there is an absence of notable corporate control.


Conclusion
The new generation of the internet- Web 3.0 and the new world reality- Metaverse- have similar backgrounds in some aspects, but they are not the same concept.
While The metaverse is a new reality and experience in gaming, shopping, communication and more, Web3 is simply a newborn generation of how the internet works.

This article is written by Somebody From Breet. Breet is an OTC crypto trading platform in Africa where users can sell their crypto, convert it to cash and withdraw it to their local bank account within seconds.