Web 2.0 started in the early 2000s. It changed the internet by making users into creators instead of just readers. People could now write blogs, edit Wikipedia, or make profiles on Facebook and MySpace. Websites like Gmail and Google Maps used Ajax technology to update pages without reloading them. Platforms like Flickr let users tag photos, and developers mixed data from different apps using APIs. The web became a place where everyone could share ideas and work together, not just big companies.
Today’s web still uses these ideas but focuses more on smart features and smooth experiences. Before, Web 2.0 needed users to click or type to do things, like liking posts. Now, apps like Spotify or Netflix guess what you want using AI. Tools like Google Docs let many people edit the same document at the same time, with live cursors showing who’s typing. Interactions aren’t just on screens anymore—voice assistants like Alexa or AR filters on Snapchat mix online and real-life experiences. Even small actions, like a heart animation when you like a post, feel smoother and more real.
But these changes have problems too. Web 2.0 was about letting everyone join freely, but today’s personalization can trap users in filter bubbles or risk their privacy. New decentralized platforms, like blockchain social networks, and cookie consent popups show people want more control over their data. Also, moving from keyboards to voice and gesture controls makes it harder for some people to use tech. Making things easy shouldn’t leave people out.