In the land of ancient pixels, in the dusty corridors of Web1, little molola tentatively clicked her way into the internet universe. It was the dial-up era, a time when websites took longer to load than it took Molola to finish her homework. Web1 was the equivalent of an ancient scroll — static and about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Fast forward to Web2, and Molola was entering her social media adolescence. Like a teenager finding their voice, Molola discovered the joy of oversharing on Facebook and perfecting the art of the humblebrag on X (Twitter still sounds fine). The internet was becoming a playground to social networking sites, blogs, and large forums were all around her. However, there was a catch: just like an adolescent who can't entirely manage their secrets, she couldn't control her data.
Next came Web 3.0, the age of the superhero. Now a tech-savvy teenager, Molola learned about decentralization, and immutability of records on the Internet. It was similar to discovering the keys to her own toy chest that is indestructible.
With its increased interactive elements, such as the ability to incorporate social media into her life, Web 4.0 felt to Molola like her early adulthood. Artificial intelligence was easily incorporated into daily life as a result of the internet's increasing intelligence. However, Web 5.0 was when the true magic happened. Web 5 is a revolution rather than an evolution. Users like Molola now have total ownership and control over their data, fulfilling a dream. In web 5, Molola, the adult explorer, came across three pillars of awe.
Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) came first. They functioned similarly to digital IDs for Molola, enabling her to use the internet independently of others, much like an adult claiming their freedom.
Then, her digital badges of distinction were Verifiable Credentials. By demonstrating that she completed the online school of life, for example, they guaranteed the legitimacy of her digital accomplishments.
And then, there were Molola's hidden vaults, the Decentralized Web Nodes (DWNs). Like a responsible adult shielding priceless keepsakes from prying eyes, they kept her memories safe.
With Web 5.0, Molola found her adult playground where she could take charge again, create her digital persona, and navigate the internet with the assurance of an experienced user. This was the story of a little child who became an internet explorer and left his mark on the rapidly changing internet.