Let's cut the fluff. You're here because you're either a parent, grandparent, or mentor wondering how to prepare the next generation for what's next. And what's next is Web3. It's not just about crypto. It’s less about the particulars and more about a fundamental shift in how the internet operates, and to be honest, many of us are still catching up.

Forget the TikTok trends. Forget the hype about having to gain admission to Ivy League universities (well, maybe a little hype). The true game changer for teenagers isn’t a new app to build or a 4.0 GPA to reach. It’s all about learning more, growing, and flourishing with Web3. Why? Because the future of literally everything – entertainment, finance, social interaction – is being deliberately reinvented as we speak. The children who learn the language of this new internet will be the ones setting the standards.

Why Isn't School Teaching This?

Our education system today is still mostly set up to create kids who are ready to take jobs in the industrial age. Memorize facts, follow instructions, get a job. But the industrial age is over. We’re in the age of decentralization, of creator economy, of you own your own digital world.

Public schools today almost exclusively teach Algebra, the math most of us haven’t used since 12th grade. At the same time, a utopian parallel universe is being created, blockchain, DAOs and NFTs to the rescue! It’s like teaching children to ride a horse while the rest of the world is developing rocket ships.

This isn't just a career thing. This is about power. Web3 is all about redistributing power from centralized institutions and back to the people. If we fail to prepare our teens to be active participants, they’ll miss out and fall behind. Similar to internet naysayers in the 1990s. The outrageously unfair part is: they didn't get to choose, and we, the adults, are responsible for their future.

Coding Beyond "Hello, World!"

Yes, coding is important. But not just any coding. We're talking about coding for the blockchain. Solidity, Rust, Javascript – these aren’t just the programming languages of Web3. They’re the tools to build dApps (decentralized applications), smart contracts, and the infrastructure of the new internet.

Here's the unexpected connection: Forget just writing code, the teens need to understand cryptoeconomics. It’s that magical intersection of cryptography and economic incentives. It’s all about architecting ecosystems where protocols and profit motives are in harmony towards the goal of building secure, resilient decentralized networks. It's game theory meets computer science.

That’s a shame, since a perfectly coded app won’t do much good if the underlying economics are in shambles. Now imagine you’re building a decentralized version of Uber, but the incentive structure you designed is getting drivers to hack the system around the clock. What I learned Understanding cryptoeconomics goes way beyond just designing resilient systems versus unsustainable, centralized ones.

There are tons of free resources online to learn these skills. Sites such as CryptoZombies and Buildspace provide hands-on, gamified courses to engage new developers. The barrier to entry is lower than ever. Why? Big tech companies are seeing enormous profits from the current web. They’re never going to teach you how to escape their clutches.

NFTs are More Than JPEGs

Okay, I know what you're thinking: NFTs are just overpriced JPEGs. And, frankly, a lot of them are. But that’s as absurd as claiming that the internet is all cat videos. As a technology, NFTs are allowing us to tokenize digital assets and proven verifiable ownership. They’re useful for everything from digital art to virtual real estate to in-game assets.

Because if it were, the true skill wouldn’t be in knowing when to buy and sell NFTs (that would be speculation—not skill). The trick is knowing how to design and implement them. Through accessible policy and smart implementation, NFTs can help fund these much needed projects while fostering greater community engagement. How do we use them to help creators get in the door and get rewarded by their fans? How can they be deployed to design positive new digital identity systems and forms of digital identity?

  • Example: Imagine a musician who releases their music as an NFT. Fans who own the NFT get access to exclusive content, early access to tickets, and even a share of the royalties. This creates a direct connection between the artist and their fans, cutting out the middleman (record labels, streaming services).

This skill can’t be limited to art or music. It’s about rethinking how we experience digital media and how artists are compensated.

Navigating the DAO Landscape

DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) are, at their core, internet-native companies. They’re competitive organizations that uniquely are governed by their code and their community rather than by CEOs and board members. They’re the future of work, the future of investing, and the future of governance.

The key ability is not simply participating in a DAO (though that’s a positive first step). It’s getting a deep understanding of the mechanics of DAOs, how they’re structured, how you can meaningfully participate. You’ll come away with an understanding of how to engage and advocate within this new decentralized decision-making. You’ll learn, too, how to pitch ideas, lobby, and find common ground all in a virtual setting.

Because DAOs are going to change the nature of every industry. Most importantly, they’re going to help greater collaboration, innovation, and wealth creation than ever before. Teens who are equipped to succeed in this new landscape will be the ones who really take charge. Because they will determine the future of those organizations.

Traditional companies are hierarchical and often opaque. DAOs are transparent and democratic. They’re a unique and fundamentally different way of organizing people and resources. One thing’s for sure, our teens will have to be better equipped to prosper in this shared space going forward.

So what's the call to action? Don't wait for schools to catch up. Don't wait for the "crypto boom" to happen (it's already happening). Start exploring Web3 today. Get them to tinker, to create, to collaborate with other makers around them. Allow them to fail, allow them to learn, allow them to build the future. Because the future isn't coming. It's already here.