Going back to the initial stages, we travel back to the very first version of the internet that existed for users, that was, Web 1.0. With this, the content was created by the creator and sent to the user. It incorporated a linear flow of information, taking into force the top-down approach. The creators used to provide information whereas the users were assumed to be passive or read only audience, consuming in all. The major restriction was the rigid boundaries that did not allow any alterations. The power rested in the hands of few, who had all the liberty to deliver whatever benefited them or they desired. The information used to be delivered from set of people who were said to be creators and flow to the set of people known as Consumers. The distinct line that separated both, stood rigid. Consumers were not allowed to assume themselves to be producers. With further advancement, another version came into being, namely, Web 2.0. With this, the consumers were no longer restricted just as consumer. They crossed the boundary to reach the other end and become producers themselves. The horizontal structure and inclusive nature became the most significant characteristic of Web 2.0. All those with the accessibility, had a choice to reach either ends of the thread. With the trend of blogs, social media and numerous online public spheres, the boundary started to diminish. Emergence of an active audience was another characteristic of Web 2.0. What next? Is that all about it? Do we have another possibility on our way or was this the end of the inclusivity? Would the power shifting further benefit all or would limiting it be our next step? Aren’t there more possibilities? Can the whole world experience another wave of the Web? What happened next? Have we entered another phase or are we stuck with Web 2.0? The answer to this question is simple yet intriguing. There is no boundary to human imagination. Whatever the human mind can think, it is capable of bringing that into reality too. Imagination is the seed for achievement. Did the human mind think of something else? The clear answer to this is, Yes. Currently, the trend has been shifted again towards the creator. But this time, there are no confined boundaries for a person to be audience. Everybody's free to become a creator, since Web 2.0 already gave that power. Web 2.5 is walking to provide an experiential service along with a personalized address, in order to engage audiences more and save their time in this timeless world. Web 2.5 is the creation of a web place, where things are distributed free in order to receive a lot of data. This Web gives the creator an accessibility to the information of the user and design the advertisement of content in a manner that suits that particular person. This includes targeted advertisement and preferable content, for user to operate. But that is not just about it. These are the few basics that were introduced with the initial phase of Web 2.5. To describe it with latest development, Web 2.5 borrows some of the best characteristics from Web 2.0 and Web 3.0. It draws the best combination of centralisation and decentralisation, in reference to flow of control. It varies in the way it carries the information from the server and stands in the middle of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0, still carrying its own and unique identities.
Loka is among the one of the first metaverses in India, that is epitome for Web 2.5. Additionally we have many more including Roblox, Recroom, play together and many more.
When we talk of Web 3.0, it focuses on creating a complete decentralized ecosystem, wherein every individual holds an individualistic account. Additionally, there is authority to manipulate at all stances.