Users Perception of Trust in Web 3.0 Technology

The shift from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0 marks a fundamental change in how users perceive trust, driven by decentralization, blockchain technology, and increased user autonomy. While Web 2.0, characterized by centralized platforms and intermediaries, has historically established trust through platform reputation, corporate oversight, and user feedback, Web 3.0 builds trust through transparency, cryptographic security, and decentralized governance. This paper explores how users perceive trust in Web 3.0 in comparison to Web 2.0, focusing on key factors like data ownership, privacy, security, and control. To gather user perspectives, a mixed-methods approach comprising surveys, interviews, and case studies is utilized. The findings are analyzed through established trust models such as TOAST and UTAUT to evaluate the influence of these factors on user trust. The results reveal a complex trust dynamic, with Web 3.0 appealing more to tech savvy users due to its decentralization advantages, though issues like usability, security vulnerabilities, and insufficient governance raise concerns. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on digital trust, offering insights for enhancing trust mechanisms in future web platforms.