Returning to the Independent Internet

If you talk to anyone who has been online for a long time, there's a good chance that they'll tell you that the Internet today just isn't what it used to be. When I was starting the process of creating this site, I found that there are many sites and groups out there working to preserve the independent, human-driven Internet. With corporate ownership and out-of-control AI saturating so much of the Web, I feel like it's important for us as users to stop supporting these platforms and get back to what made the Internet so great over 25 years ago. As I said in my first blog post: the old Internet is still there, you just have to look for it!

Here are some steps that I took to cut myself off from the corporate Internet. I highly recommend that you try at least one or more of these if you find yourself depressed, alienated, and frustrated while browsing the modern Web.

1. Disconnect from social media. Log out of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, any form of corporate social media. I'd even recommend deleting your accounts if you want to truly escape from it all. I really believe that social media is harmful for people's mental health, and we'd all be better off if we used it less or not at all. These sites use some of the most addictive algorithms that learn from your activity and pump content to you in an attempt to keep you using them 24/7. This also prevents you from finding many of the small, independent websites made and ran by everyday people. Take some time to step away from these predatory sites and look for things in the hidden corners of the Internet. Unplatform provides an easy guide to disconnecting from social media, as well as some alternatives for forums, chat rooms, news feeds, and more.
2. Switch browsers. I don't trust Google or Microsoft with my personal data, since they use so much of it to train their AI programs that are now built into Chrome and Edge. For over a year now, my browser of choice has been Waterfox. Built off of the same source code as Mozilla Firefox, it features enhanced privacy protections, customization options, a built-in ad blocker, and best of all, no AI features! I like Mozilla's foundational work because their browser is built completely independent from Google's Chromium (as well as their 10 Principles), and the developers behind Waterfox expand upon that foundation excellently.
• The Block Site extension is compatable with Firefox/Waterfox, Edge, Chrome and Opera. It allows you to block access to websites of your choice by locking them with a password. By writing my password down and hiding it somewhere, I used this extension to block access to every social media site that features an addictive algorithm feed. This is super helpful if you find yourself doomscrolling and unable to tear yourself away from sites you want to stop using.
• I set my home page to Ytoo.org. It's a throwback portal page that features links to Neocities, Nekoweb, Spacehey and so many other independent social and entertainment sites. It also features some StumbleUpon alternatives that will send you to some fun corners of the Internet. There's a lot here to love!
3. Switch search engines. I set my Waterfox to search with DuckDuckGo by default. There are other options, too, such as Mojeek and Brave Search. Besides being much more privacy-focused, these search engines will typically show you sites that get buried under Google's sponsored links. Use whatever one feels right to you.
4. Use independent search engines! So many of Google's pages are taken up by corporate-sponsored links that bury independent, non-commercial pages under dozens of pages of junk. It can be tricky to find indie sites by using search engines like Google, Bing, or even Yahoo. I've had great luck with two so far:
• Marginalia is an independent search engine that specifically looks for non-commercial content. It also has a tab for vintage pages, which helps you find so many sites that have just been buried by time.
• Wiby is an independent search engine that aims to recreate the Web surfing experience of the old Internet. It collects non-commercial pages made by hobbyists both old and new. You can also submit sites to the database and help it grow.
5. Use Web directories. A lot of the fun of the old Internet came from having to really dig to find something new and interesting instead of having content pumped directly to you via algorithms. Human-curated Web directories help to gather independent pages that would otherwise get covered up by Google's sponsored links and AI search results. They're a great way to experience what Web surfing can truly be like.
• Curlie.org is the successor to DMOZ, which was once the largest directory online. It's updated by real humans who are working to keep independent content visible.
• Old'aVista Has a fantastic directory of vintage pages that were hosted on GeoCities, AOL, Angelfire, and others. If you want a true taste of the old Internet, I highly recommend this site.
• Ray's Miscellany has a collection of several-dozen indie Web directories, each with their own description. Many of these also include links to other directories, so if you ever wanted to get lost in a spiderweb of links, this is a great place to start!
6. Use small forums. Reddit is great for easy access to your interests, but large communities like that don't have the same tight-knit feel of a smaller forum. Search for independent forums focused around what your interest is, and chime in. Smaller groups can lead to some long-lasting connections!
7. Use independent hosting sites. Neocities and Nekoweb are two independent hosting platforms that are great for hosting throwback-style personal pages. Each has a Websites section that allows you to browse sites created by other users of the platform. It's an easy way to find some neat stuff. In addition, IndieWeb provides a lot of useful guidelines for starting your own page.
8. Get involved! The Internet is a place where anyone can make something, not just big companies or individuals looking to make money. You can express yourself in any way you want in your own personal spaces. Teach yourself basic HTML, register a free site for yourself, and put your creation out there. Webrings are a great way to get some traffic to your site, as well as a way to connect with users who share your interests. Most of all, just have fun with it!

Happy surfing, everyone! I hope to see you around.