Web1
The Static Era
The first generation of the internet, Web1, was mostly for reading. Sites were like digital brochures, with simple HTML code and no changes. You had to use directories and early search to find your way around, pages took a long time to load, and the content didn’t change very often. Visitors could read text, look at pictures, and click on links, but they couldn’t log in, post, comment, or change anything. Control remained with publishers and brands instead of users. This time period set up the web’s basic structure for pages, links, and addresses, which set the stage for what came next. Early websites were all about information, not interaction, and experiences were one-way broadcasts.


