--- title: "Web 3 & RWW’s 15th anniversary" date: 2018-05-02 author: "Richard MacManus" featured_image: "https://ricmac.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2018-05-02-at-3.53.13-PM-1.png" categories: - name: "Notes" url: "/category/notes.md" tags: - name: "Blocksplain" url: "/tag/blocksplain.md" - name: "ReadWriteWeb" url: "/tag/readwriteweb.md" --- # Web 3 & RWW’s 15th anniversary 20 April was the 15th anniversary of [ReadWriteWeb](https://ricmac.org/career-archive/readwriteweb/)‘s launch, back in 2003. Usually I do an anniversary post, but this year I was a little busy with the arrival of my second child during April. Having a child puts everything in context. Just as I’m a product of Generation X, RWW was a product of its era: Web 2.0. The current iteration of [ReadWrite](https://readwrite.com/) (as it’s now called) is nothing like the site I built up. But that’s fine, I’ve started up a new blog for this new era. It’s called [Blocksplain](https://blocksplain.com/) and ostensibly it’s about blockchain and cryptocurrency. But actually I’ve discovered that “Web 3” is about more than crypto. This era is about exploring **openness**, **decentralization**, **better privacy** – to mention just a few key concepts. It’s also about **fixing the problems of Web 2.0**: dysfunctional social media, overly powerful “walled garden” tech companies, groupthink, death of online advertising, mob mentality, and more. I’m currently working on a Blocksplain post that thinks through what Web 3 really means. If you have any suggestions for me, please leave a comment. Also in April, I re-joined Newsroom as a weekly tech columnist. Here are the columns I’ve written so far: - [Why NZ needs a cyber security refresh](https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/04/30/106547/cyber-security-refresh-needed-for-new-zealand) - [Spark must up its game for Rugby World Cup](https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/04/23/105702/spark-must-up-its-streaming-game-for-the-rugby-world-cup) - [The case for a paid version of Facebook](https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@boardroom/2018/04/16/104831/the-case-for-a-paid-version-of-facebook) - [What’s missing in the IRD’s crypto guidance](https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@technology/2018/04/09/102989/whats-missing-in-the-irds-crypto-guidance) It was a quiet month on Blocksplain while I focused on my family, but I was proud of this recent post: **[3 problems the blockchain industry must fix](https://blocksplain.com/2018/04/25/3-problems-the-blockchain-industry-must-fix/)**. The three issues I identified were building products instead of writing whitepapers, getting real about how massively over-valued crypto companies are right now, and addressing the usability issues of blockchain. As always, follow me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ricmac) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ricmac) to discuss Web 3 and other grand theories. *Image above is a screenshot of RWW’s [glory days](https://web.archive.org/web/20080424110223/http://www.readwriteweb.com:80/archives/weekly_wrapup_14-18_april_2008.php) in 2008.*