Remember When the Web Was Fun?
I've been thinking a lot lately about what we lost when the web became "professional." Sure, modern websites are faster, more accessible, and easier to use. But something important was lost along the way: personality.
What Made the Old Web Special
1. Every Site Was Unique
Back in the day, you could tell who made a website just by looking at it. People weren't using the same templates, the same frameworks, the same design patterns. Every site was a reflection of its creator.
- Crazy color schemes? ✅
- Custom cursors? ✅
- Background music? ✅
- Animated GIFs everywhere? ✅✅✅
2. People Made Sites for Themselves
The old web wasn't about building an audience or making money (well, mostly). People made websites because they wanted to. They had something to say, something to share, or they just thought it would be fun.
There was no pressure to:
- Post consistently
- Optimize for SEO
- Build a personal brand
- Go viral
- Monetize everything
3. The Web Was Weird
And I mean that in the best way possible. The barriers to entry were low, but not so low that everyone was doing it. You had to be a little bit nerdy, a little bit creative, and willing to learn some HTML.
This created a beautiful ecosystem of weird, wonderful, niche websites made by passionate people.
What We Lost
When social media took over, we traded:
- Personal websites → Profile pages
- Blogging → Status updates
- Web rings → Algorithms
- Creativity → Templates
- Ownership → Renting space
Don't get me wrong—social media has its place. But we've given up a lot of creative freedom in exchange for convenience.
The Revival
The good news? There's a growing movement to bring back the old web:
Neocities has over 500,000 sites and counting.
The IndieWeb community is building tools for personal websites.
People are rediscovering the joy of having their own space online.
How You Can Join
- Make a website - Seriously, just make one. It doesn't have to be perfect.
- Make it weird - Don't follow trends. Make something that's uniquely you.
- Have fun - This isn't a job. This is play.
- Link to others - Build a web ring. Make a links page. Support other creators.
Resources to Get Started
- Neocities - Free hosting
- Eleventy - Easy static site generator (what this site uses!)
- Sadgrl.online - Tutorials and resources
- The Yesterweb - Community and inspiration
The web is still here. It's still weird. We just have to remember to make it that way.
What do you miss about the old web? Let me know in my guestbook!
