The internet came a major change in the early 2000s, Web 2.0. It was a time when websites were no longer static, but interactive and dynamic spaces where users would engage, produce, and collaborate online. The primary exchanges made available were user generated content on blogs and wikis, social media (Facebook, Twitter), and users’ sharing of multimedia content (YouTube, Flickr). Methods such as AJAX made web pages to be updated without refreshing content for improved user interface and interaction.

Web 2.0 also introduced tagging and folksonomies that let people categorise and arrange content collectively to be more discoverable. Open APIs took off and it was easier for developers to bring together services and build cool applications. Participation, collaboration and sharing were the focus, making the internet a social arena.

The internet has become much more, using the same technology as Web 2.0 but now with new technology to transform communication. Whether it’s recommendation of content based on your interests, or intelligent assistants able to read your voice, artificial intelligence and machine learning offer now highly tailored experiences. The most popular internet browser today is on a smartphone, so you’ve developed responsive designs and mobile-first apps.

Instant messaging software and video conferences enable you to connect anywhere in the world at any moment of the day. Augmented and virtual reality are transforming immersive experience between the virtual and real. Additionally, the emergence of the Internet of Things has brought all everyday objects online, so that any part of the day could be integrated and controlled via the internet.

Privacy and security are taken to heart and regulation and data protection became more important. Blockchain technology encourages decentralization, which means a fresh way to process payments and maintain records.

What is meant is that Web 2.0 gave the internet its interactive and social aspects, but that the web of the present day has extended these in ways that incorporate intelligent technologies, connectivity and personalised, real-time experiences. They are different in terms of complexity and immersion, based on technological changes and shifting expectations.