Web 2.0: Anything New Out There?

Of course there is: But is it really beyond Web 1.0? What about the current bubble? And what’s the core of Web 2.0? Dave Winer is right in his two points:

All the two-way technology of Web 2.0 was invented and pioneered while the 1.0 bubble was building and popping. So Web 2.0 is every bit as real as the original web was. … But the two-wayness of the web will continue after the VCs leave us, again, after missing the point, again.

Web 2.0 is about Onliner Majority

But in my opinion, Winer misses the most important difference Web 2.0 makes: Web 2.0 isn’t about truly new technology. Web 2.0 is about media competence, new social interaction and networking. And above all: today it’s about the majority. It’s the broad majority of onliners who discover Web 1.0 we discovered 1o or even more years ago [in DOS style quasi]. And this is the reason why people talk about technology while talking about Web 2.0: optimized [old] technology [Windows 95 style, not even XP yet] enables nearly everyone to use the two-wayness Web 1.0 has offered during the last years already.

Web 2.0 is about Supply Side Majority

And it’s not only the majority of onliners who discover Web 1.0 today, and that’s the second change Web 2.0 provides: Web 2.0 is about the majority of people behind the websites and services offered online as well. Amazon has offered product ratings since I know their site. eBay has offered user ratings since I know their site. Google has ranked websites by people’s opinions since I know their site. “Web 2.0″ has been out there since many, many years. But today, Web 2.0 is nearly everywhere because it’s easy to integrate for everyone. And today, what’s even more important, Web 2.0 is actually wanted by the majority of companies, organizations and individuals who offer web services, because they’ve learned that it’s relevant for their gain.

Web 2.0 is about Media Competence

All in all Web 2.0 is about learning and improved media competence: something you can’t buy instantly, something that takes a lot of time, and something that - if achieved by the broad majority - changes really everything:

Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo

But apparently Web 2.0 isn’t everywhere yet: It’s not “in a small town in middle America” yet. It’s not in a small town in Germany yet. And it’s not inside of all companies yet. But I believe it’s in the majority today. And that’s a good reason to call it: Web 2.0