Is WEB3 the next big thing on the internet? What is it?

Loading player...
The term Web3 has suddenly become popular and is often referred to in the literature. But what is Web3 and what does it entail?
To properly understand Web3, it is important to know what the preceding Web1 and Web2 entailed. Web1 refers roughly to the initial period from 1991 to 2004, and consisted of a collection of links and home pages. Websites were very static, read-only and had very little or no interactivity. Users were mere consumers of content.
Web2 was a major improvement and has often been referred to as the “read/write” version of the Internet, based around the idea of “the web as platform”, where users not only consume content, but can interact with the content or produce their own content and publish it on blogs, wikis, internet forums and marketplaces, making activities such as online banking and shopping possible. Some years later, the widely popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram took user-created content and sharing to a totally new level. Web2 or the “social web” is generally considered to have started around 2005 and continues to the present day.
1 Mar 2022 3AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Durban July’s Billion‑Rand Comeback: Racing’s Revival Story

Hollywoodbets’ Devin Heffer takes us inside the extraordinary revival of South African horse racing. The Hollywoodbets Durban July is now edging toward a R1 billion economic contribution — a dramatic turnaround for an industry nearly wiped out by the Steinhoff fallout and the pandemic. Heffer explains how the Durban July has…
6 Jul 2PM 13 min

600 000 in Sight: SA’s Automotive Comeback Explained

NADA Chairperson Brandon Cohen unpacks South Africa’s remarkable new‑vehicle market performance. We explore why consumers are returning to trusted brands, how affordability pressures shape buying behaviour, the rise of Chinese manufacturers, and the booming demand for used commercial vehicles. Cohen also outlines the risks and opportunities for H2 2026
6 Jul 1PM 15 min

South Africa’s Mid‑2026 Outlook: Oil, Rand & Resilience

PwC Chief Economist Lullu Krugel unpacks South Africa’s slowing but still‑intact recovery as the country enters H2 2026. We explore the cost‑push shock from Middle East tensions, the rand’s volatility, rising input costs, and the implications of a 7% repo rate. Krugel breaks down sector winners and laggards, inflation risks,…
6 Jul 12PM 20 min

Manufacturing Slips: June Absa PMI Signals Q2 Strain

Absa Economist Sello Sekele unpacks June’s PMI decline from 50.8 to 47.3, the impact of easing Middle East tensions on fuel prices, the sharp drop in purchasing price pressures, weakening demand as buyers delay purchases, and why employment and inventories point to continued strain in South Africa’s manufacturing sector.
2 Jul 1PM 12 min

Tax Season Scams: AI Fraud, WhatsApp Spoofing & Digital Red Flags

Cybercriminals are exploiting tax‑season anxiety with AI‑generated phishing emails, cloned SARS websites, WhatsApp spoofing and payroll‑related scams. Lucas Molefe explains why 2026 is a high‑risk year, how scammers mimic official communication, and the digital hygiene habits that protect your identity and refund. Essential listening for every taxpayer.
2 Jul 1PM 9 min