Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

What it Means to Decentralize the Web - A Study of the Implications and Feasibility of a Decentralized Web

Borglund, Jakob LU and Strömberg, Torsten LU (2023) SYSK16 20231
Department of Informatics
Abstract (Swedish)
Although based on decentralized principles, the World Wide Web has become highly centralized with a few multinational tech corporations hosting and providing all of the services most people use the internet for. This has led to the unproportionate power some companies hold over the world’s people and has wide consequences, not least is reduced integrity. As a response to this development, decentralized alternatives to these services are being developed and used, as well as a vision for an entirely new web (Web3). Federated social networks, blockchain technologies, dApps, and more are all components of a new decentralized web. However, these initiatives face threatening challenges - both technological and social ones. While these... (More)
Although based on decentralized principles, the World Wide Web has become highly centralized with a few multinational tech corporations hosting and providing all of the services most people use the internet for. This has led to the unproportionate power some companies hold over the world’s people and has wide consequences, not least is reduced integrity. As a response to this development, decentralized alternatives to these services are being developed and used, as well as a vision for an entirely new web (Web3). Federated social networks, blockchain technologies, dApps, and more are all components of a new decentralized web. However, these initiatives face threatening challenges - both technological and social ones. While these alternative solutions are a viable solution for some, none of them are in a stage where they can compete with the centralized architecture. Due to substandard UX design, poor performance, network effects, inherently reduced functionality and a tainted reputation, the decentralized web is far from as functional as the traditional web. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Borglund, Jakob LU and Strömberg, Torsten LU
supervisor
organization
course
SYSK16 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Decentralized Web, Re-decentralization, Web3, Blockchain, Peer-to-Peer
language
English
id
9116844
date added to LUP
2023-06-09 15:24:16
date last changed
2023-06-09 15:24:16
@misc{9116844,
  abstract     = {{Although based on decentralized principles, the World Wide Web has become highly centralized with a few multinational tech corporations hosting and providing all of the services most people use the internet for. This has led to the unproportionate power some companies hold over the world’s people and has wide consequences, not least is reduced integrity. As a response to this development, decentralized alternatives to these services are being developed and used, as well as a vision for an entirely new web (Web3). Federated social networks, blockchain technologies, dApps, and more are all components of a new decentralized web. However, these initiatives face threatening challenges - both technological and social ones. While these alternative solutions are a viable solution for some, none of them are in a stage where they can compete with the centralized architecture. Due to substandard UX design, poor performance, network effects, inherently reduced functionality and a tainted reputation, the decentralized web is far from as functional as the traditional web.}},
  author       = {{Borglund, Jakob and Strömberg, Torsten}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{What it Means to Decentralize the Web - A Study of the Implications and Feasibility of a Decentralized Web}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}