Is there a basic explanation of Web3 somewhere for my mom?

There isn't, but there should be! 💡

Blockchain is a tool for building Web3, which to me simply means the internet of value (owning digital things). But that also means blockchain need not be a part of that equation at all.

To take advantage of it, your Mom shouldn't need to understand the inner mechanics. I have a refrigerator, what does it do? It keeps food cold. You needn't know the inner workings to take advantage of it's awesome power.

We all pay for goods with money, yet only a select few understand the economics behind fiat. Web3 needs to bridge that gap.

This might rub some purists the wrong way though. It means the average person cares very little about decentralization. What they will care about is being able to log in to applications without having to remember a password or transfer money from place to place without waiting for a clearing house or being charged a transaction fee.

God forbid we allow financial transactions to take place instantly, without paying a middleman... 🤯

I find Web3 seems to conflate the technology behind it with what makes it valuable to a consumer.

But would people be skeptical of HOW it allowed them to log in without a password like they are used to?

Does anyone know if those GDPR cookie popups actually work on every website? Do they ask how our passwords are stored?

I've met developers with years of experience that have no idea how traditional password-based authentication works. I'd imagine most people know even less than that with the tech we have right now.

Someone once told me the little red emergency brakes 🚨 on the train are actually connected to nothing. They're just there to make you feel good. I think of this metaphor a lot when browsing the web. So many popups, certifications, and legalese. Yet there are so many data leaks, breaches, and vulnerabilities on trusted platforms.

What I think is cool about Web3 is the idea that it will enable great security. How it achieves that will grow less and less important to consumers as it becomes mainstream.