Introduction

Today marks 30 years since Tim Berners-Lee submitted a proposal to his colleagues at CERN. Thisproposal was labelled vague, but exciting by his boss Mike Sendall. March 1989 saw the birth of one of the greatest inventions of the century – the World Wide Web.

What does it have in store for us in the future? What are the challenges we need to overcome? Read the blog to know more.

Tim Berners-Lee on World Wide Web

“It’s a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come, but also an opportunity to reflect on how far we have yet to go,” says Tim Berners-Lee on the thirtieth-anniversary celebration.

He calls the world wide web a, “public square, a library, a doctor’s office, a shop, a school, a design studio, an office, a cinema, a bank, and so much more”. He speaks of the increasing divide between the population of the world that is online and the population of the world that is not. This, he states is currently the biggest issue they need to tackle.

Problems with the World Wide Web

Of course there are other major problems that still exist in the world wide web since he last made his statement. These include online harassment, criminal activity online, hacking and attacks, clickbait, viral misinformation being spread around, and many more.

There is no solution for fixing online harassment or criminal activity online, but the rest can be resolved by creating a community and working together for a better future, according to Tim Berners-Lee.

What is the Answer?

To create an online environment where everyone uses the world wide web for the public good, it has to be recognized as a right in itself. To get all the people who are offline on to the web and by creating a platform that is both safe and trustworthy is the ultimate goal.

To reach this goal, Web Foundation is working with various governments, companies as well as citizens to build a new Contract for the Web. The contract will have a section to make sure that companies, citizens and governments adhere to certain principles and values of the world wide web.

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Principles of the Contract for the Web

Some of the principles that are a part of the contract by the Web Foundation include:

1. Governments need to ensure that everyone in their state can connect to the internet
2. The access to internet should be available at all times
3. Governments and companies need to respect and respond to their citizens’ right to privacy as well as personal data
4. Companies need to ensure that the services provided are affordable for everyone
5. Citizens have the responsibility to create a safe community on the world wide web so that the content available online is relevant for everyone

Conclusion

As we celebrate 30 years of the World Wide Web, it’s clear that while we’ve come a long way, there are still significant challenges to overcome. Tim Berners-Lee’s vision for the web remains as relevant today as it was when the idea was first proposed, with the most pressing issues being the digital divide, online harassment, misinformation, and the need for a safer and more inclusive internet. The creation of the Contract for the Web offers a promising path forward, focusing on collaboration between governments, companies, and citizens to build a web that is safe, accessible, and trustworthy for everyone. The next 30 years will require continued effort, but with a shared commitment to these principles, we can work toward a more equitable and sustainable web for all.

FAQs

1. What is the World Wide Web’s 30th anniversary about?
   • The 30th anniversary marks the proposal made by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN in March 1989, which led to the creation of the World Wide Web. This milestone reflects on the progress made and the challenges that remain.
2. What problems exist with the World Wide Web today?
   • Some of the major problems include the digital divide, online harassment, criminal activity, misinformation, and lack of privacy. These issues hinder the web’s ability to serve everyone fairly.
3. What is the goal for the future of the World Wide Web?
   • The goal is to create an internet environment where everyone, including those currently offline, can access a safe, trustworthy, and accessible web that serves the public good.
4. What is the Contract for the Web?
   • The Contract for the Web is an initiative by the Web Foundation that outlines principles to ensure governments, companies, and citizens work together to make the web safe, accessible, affordable, and private for everyone.
5. What are some principles of the Contract for the Web?
   • Key principles include universal internet access, respect for privacy, affordability of services, and the responsibility of citizens to create a safe online community.