My blog has mostly stayed as a space where I post long-form articles. Most of my “social” posts over the last six years have been on Twitter (Facebook before that; yes, I’m that old).
More recently, I’ve had this feeling that I have less and less control over the content I view and share on these social media platforms. Then there is the inherent homogenization of content and ideas at the core of these social media websites, meaning I have the same feed as my colleague living on the other side of the world.
For most people today, the Internet is just a handful of websites. There’s increasingly less room for tiny, unique, creative, and original corners on the Internet unless they can somehow mould into the limited spaces of these walled gardens.
I’m writing this from an IndieWebClub meetup with 30 people who care about an independent Internet enough to show up on a cozy Saturday afternoon. Just being here gives me the optimism to imagine a future where the web is a fun place where anyone can build anything, free from these artificial limitations and algorithmic optimizations.
I had recently moved all of my shortform, Tweet-like posts to this website, syndicated to Mastodon. That was actually the second step. I had already (mostly) stopped tweeting actively two years ago, and I do not think I will be again.
To summarize unfairly, I’m bullish on the free and independent web. It is fun. The barrier to creating your own digital space on the web has never been lower. So let this be your sign to create your own website, and if you already have one, start using it as your primary channel.
It is time to take back the Internet.