This was an interesting, enriching and informative piece. You discussed the transition, similarities and differences between Web 1, Web 2 and Web 3 from an interesting perspective, all in a bid to expose the fact that nothing is free and that Web 2 isn't free.
Indeed, Web 2.0 isn't free, or perhaps I'll say that it can only be free when you consider your personal data as inconsequential and unimportant. But since we know how important our data is, then we know that we have indeed become the consumable object instead of the consumers.
Prior to reading this piece, I've made researches about Web 1, 2 and 3, however, your explanation of Web 2 data has helped me understand a lot.
How on earth did I forget that tailored or direct ads is as a result of the data that has been "sapped away" by these applications? Why would bikini ads come on my Facebook page when I am neither a lady, nor have I searched for it at some point before?
Yes, they collude! They collect our data and sell it off to the highest bidder, and we keep getting ads that are tailored to our needs, yet we wonder how these advertising companies know that we want such.
Little did we know that we are the consumable objects for Facebook, to become consumers of their product "us" through the purchase of things via the ads.
We need to think more of value, that "freebies"...
In my place we have a saying in pidgin English, "oshofree dey worry belle", which means "freebies worry the stomach." In the same way, using web2 because it us free, will actually worry your stomach or your private life, among many other problems.