The Evolution of the Internet: From Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and Beyond

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During the 1990s and early 2000s, the Internet’s primary applications were e-mail (one-to-one communication) and Web page display (one-to-many communication). By 2005 it had evolved into a far more powerful social network. In other words, the Web became a many-to-many tool as an increasing number of applications on it led to the creation of new content and navigational possibilities for users. Through social networks, users can engage in real-time conversations with others; write, read, and comment on blogs and wikis; share photos and videos; and interact within virtual 3-D environments. People commonly describe these two phases in the Internet’s evolution as Web 1.0 and Web 2.0.