The Black Purposes of Web3: A Technical and Societal Analysis

Abstract

Web3 is a system of applications built on the blockchain, an immutable, distributed ledger of blocks linked together with cryptographic hashes. This emerging technology is being promoted by some as a solution to the centralization and user privacy issues of the current web. Given the pattern of technologies becoming mainstream and having negative effects, especially on marginalized groups, it is important to consider the potential societal implications of this new technology before it is widely adopted. After providing background on the previous iterations of the web, this paper gives an overview of Web3’s value proposition, its technical details, and the surrounding media discourse. This research focuses on African Americans in particular, exploring the history of Black Americans and technology and drawing on that history to investigate the potential uses and impacts of Web3. I discussed the themes of the digital divide, Lastly, from this perspective this work discusses improvements and alternatives of Web3 that could succeed in reaching the same goals.