Why Independent Publishing Is the Answer in the Web2 vs. Web3 Debate

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The internet is always about control and ownership. Who owns your content? Who controls how you share it?

That’s the real question every creator faces.

For years, most of us have lived inside Web2. That means big platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Medium, or Substack. At first, these felt great—instant reach, free accounts, and easy tools.

But soon, the problems showed up.

Then came Web3, with promises of blockchain, NFTs, and publishing everything “on-chain.” It sounded like freedom, but in practice… not really.

So where does that leave us?

The best answer is simple:become an independent publisher.


Why Web2 Doesn’t Work for Freedom

Web2 is convenient, but it locks you in.

  • You don’t own your audience. Followers belong to the platform. If the algorithm changes, your reach disappears.
  • Your content isn’t fully yours. Your account can get deleted, censored, or restricted.
  • You can’t move easily. You can’t just pick up your YouTube subscribers and bring them somewhere else.

That’s too much power in someone else’s hands.


Why Web3 Isn’t the Easy Fix

Web3 tried to create a new future: publishing on blockchains, owning your work through NFTs, and building with DAOs.

But there are problems here too:

  • Expensive to run. Every action on a blockchain costs money (gas fees).
  • Not user-friendly. Wallets, keys, and chains feel confusing for most people.
  • No guarantees. Who knows which blockchain will even survive 10 years from now?

Instead of making things easier, Web3 can sometimes add more barriers.


The Better Way: Independent Publishing

The real solution? Take control into your own hands.

  • Own your domain. Your yourdomain.com is your digital home. Nobody can take that away.
  • Pay for your hosting. Yes, you rent space from hosting companies. But you can always move if needed.
  • Back up your files. A daily backup means you’ll never lose your work.
  • Choose your system. WordPress, Hugo, Ghost, or even simple HTML. The choice is yours.

With this setup, you have freedom. Full control. No platform limits.


Why Independent Publishing Wins

  1. You own your content. No one can delete it without your choice.
  2. You can move anywhere. Switch hosts, domains, or software. It all comes with you.
  3. You connect directly. Use email lists, RSS, or your own site instead of waiting for platforms to “push” your posts.
  4. It lasts. Platforms and tech trends come and go, but your site stays as long as you want it to.

This is what long-term creators need.


Closing Thoughts

Web2 platforms? Too centralized. Web3 blockchains? Too complicated.

The real path is independent publishing.

Buy your domain. Host your own site. Back up your files.

That’s digital freedom. That’s true ownership.

And best of all. You can take it anywhere, anytime, on your terms.

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