Russia has invaded Ukraine. While all the attention is focused there, China is closing in on Taiwan. This is nothing new, but Russia's move will probably embolden China to do more than just that. The global balance of power is shifting. Even more reason to become truly technologically aware.

In developer circles, we are already talking about Web3 taking over Web2. Yes, Web2 does not address all the issues and or threats that currently face all of us. Especially new ones that have developed in recent days.

According to techcabal.com,

To explain it in one word, Web3 is all about decentralization—from platforms Meta, Alphabet (Google), and Amazon; governments; and the traditional financial system. By placing power in the hands of individuals instead, Web3 promises to deepen the democratization of the internet.

According to Wikipedia,

Web3 (also known as Web 3.0 and sometimes stylized as web3) is an idea for a new iteration of the World Wide Web based on blockchain technology, which incorporates concepts including decentralization and token-based economics. Some technologists and journalists have contrasted it with Web 2.0, wherein they say data and content are centralized in a small group of companies sometimes referred to as "Big Tech". The term was coined in 2014 by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood, and the idea gained interest in 2021 from cryptocurrency enthusiasts, large technology companies, and venture capital firms.

According to Forbes,

Web3 is currently a work-in-progress and isn’t exactly defined yet. However, the main principle is that it will be decentralized – rather than controlled by governments and corporations, as is the case with today’s internet – and, to some extent, connected to the concept of the “metaverse."

Before we start – just to avoid confusion – it’s worth mentioning that, until a few years ago, the term “web 3.0” was frequently used to describe what is now known as the “semantic web." This was a concept put forward by the original "father of the internet," Sir Tim Berners-Lee, for a machine-to-machine internet. Language is defined by its use, and the term is more frequently used to describe something else now. However, Berners-Lee’s concepts are considered to be a part of what we now call web3, although not the entirety of it.

To learn more, please visit the article entitled What Is Web3 All About? An Easy Explanation With Examples by Bernard Marr on forbes.com.

We might see a much more accelerated shift to Web3 than anyone even dreamed of namely due to recent developments in Ukraine AND Taiwan. However, there are so many non-technologists who do don't even know what Web2 is all about.

Traditionally, developers (and others) would state something like

There is no reason for everyone to know about the web! Leave it to us to deal with for them.

No. With the advent of "smart technology", everyone should have had at least a basic understanding of what the Web is all about and what is goes on there. Web2 and eventually (or not so eventually) Web3 should be taught in schools (especially in higher education) as part of the core curriculum. We talk about pushing for women and girls to enter STEM. Let's take it a step further. Let's educate the "entire population" about current AND future technologies. They don't have to become developers, data scientists, software engineers, cyber-security professionals, etc. They just have to be made aware of the concepts, issues and threats which exist.

Yes. "Lock up your digital world". Maybe now (some of my) lecture(s) to my students will "hold more weight" and "make more sense" because of everything that is going on right now. Just as with COVID-19, when it struck the world, sometimes it takes a crisis/disaster for something to "click" and for the world to "wake up". But it should be the other way around. This is where #chaosengineering should come in! The principles of #chaosengineering should become a default.

It's not just about developers or other technologists being the ones who know what the Web is all about and what goes on there. Everyone should have at LEAST a BASIC understanding so that they can protect themselves. So that they know what to watch out for. I am not the only one of this opinion, and NOW it is more crucial than ever.

Just listen to what is being said today on the news. It's no joke. People, educate yourselves. Educational institutions, educate the population. The time is NOW.

Don't give up your power to someone else because of a lack of knowledge or awareness. Give it back to yourself through knowledge. Knowledge IS power!