The Metaweb Challenge

Achieving the SDGs necessitates that the younger generations make optimal use of the tools we have passed onto them. Of these tools, the Internet is the most essential, serving as our principal medium for communication and collaboration. The younger generation must leverage the Internet, taking it to the next level. After all, they are the ones who have inherited the monumental challenges we face.

Many see youth engagement as humanity's top priority. Viewed collectively, humanity stands in its adolescence, while the Internet, merely three decades old, is in its infancy. The future of both the Internet and humanity is intricately interwoven. For humanity to transition from adolescence to adulthood, the Internet must support the transition, which means it needs to transform from serving the individual to serving the collective.

Today's youth are highly engaged in online activities - they play games, consume content, and are deeply immersed in social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and others---but online activities have proven distracting if not damaging to individuals and the collective. While this happens, nature is in decline and the health and character of our young generation are under threat.

The Web4 Foundation, a global not-for-profit organization headquartered in Tulum, Mexico, is dedicated to catalyzing the next phase of the Internet. The uncensored input of youth on the future of technology and of the Web supports active citizenship, social entrepreneurship, sound governance, and a thriving planet. Through a suite of projects, tools, and resources, we are building on Metaweb theory

As explained in our book The Metaweb: The Next Level of the Internet, we design and build secure AI-assisted environments that enable communities to meet and interact above the webpage. We invite young people to learn where we are and provide their input, whether in designing governance processes, figuring out how SDG oriented communities can leverage these next-gen Internet tools, or building ordinals applications on bitcoin. 

Through our Metaweb SUNY SDG Challenge, we invite students to contribute their time and talents to featured Metaweb project opportunities. Students' work will be published and used on Metaweb platforms to show the world what is possible and build the movement.

Accepted students will be matched with the following project types. Please indicate interest and any specialized skills or experience in application letter/email.

Architect The Overweb

You can participate in the designing of the next level of the Internet, the Overweb. Based on Mtaweb theory, the Overweb is a safe decentralized environment above the webpage. It is in the planning and initial community building stage. For the challenge, we are conducting several topic-based innovation studios, in which teams will form to develop ideas and proposals for aspects of the Metaweb.  The innovation studios will be digital badges, on-page presence, AI safety, bridging, meta domains, and meta-communities. You select the topics that interest you. The innovation studio goes for several months, during which you learn about the topic, its requirements, and then work with your group to develop a proposal. The best proposals will be considered for approval by the Overweb Council.   

Onboard the Presence Browser 

You can help SDG-oriented communities leverage the next level of the Web to achieve their goals. The Presence Browser is a browser overlay that enables people to access the environment above the webpage. Let’s explore how a movement or organization could use Presence to improve connection, communication, coordination, and collaboration, all of which are needed to attain SDG 17 as well as others. Find a group or organization working on something that relates to the SDGs, enroll them in a conversation about their mission and needs, and then develop a proposal for how the Metaweb could be transformative for their endeavors.

Meta-Ordinal

You can participate in the revival of Bitcoin--the gold standard of blockchains--through ordinal theory, which enables content to be “inscribed” on the smallest unit of a bitcoin, a satoshi. We are part of a builder community that is building new capabilities into ordinals. One of these is Meta-ordinal theory, which enables satoshis to have a virtual presence. Join this project to help design and build ordinal and meta-ordinal capabilities and collections that can support the SDGs. The coding will be in javascript and/or HTML with optional AI assistance (for people who are not coders).

• Web4 Foundation, Daveed Benjamin Founding director of the Web4 Foundation and founder of the Overweb, Presence Browser, and Meta-Ordinals Theory. Next Generation Internet award winner. Author of “The Metaweb: The Next Level of the Internet” and “Pacha’s Pajamas: A Story Written By Nature.” Inventor with two patents granted.

Email: daveed@bridgit.io

UNSDG, ELN, SUNY, Project Challenge, IITG