I Miss the Spirit of the Old Internet

Oct 4

Let me introduce my new blog with some late-night ramblings, in classic Sagittarius moon fashion. My core claim is simple: I miss the spirit of the old internet. The web felt different back then; I miss the new-car smell. Maybe I’m looking back through rose-colored lenses; in fact, I probably am. I don’t care; I’ll admit it, but the old internet was better. Everything changes, but not every change has to be negative or a decline like what we’re witnessing with the internet and social media right now.

I was born in 2000, so I wasn’t there at the start or, if you want to get really retro, Usenet in the '80s. However, I am a Zillennial, so I experienced the prime of the internet for multiplayer games (Club Penguin, Habbo, Webkinz) and social media without algorithms. I was also in this weird in-between where I used the internet, especially from age 9 on, but I still went outside and had fun without it. If anything, I would daily vlog while playing outside in 2009 after a hard day of third grade. The creative spirit of old YouTube always had me inspired to create content and go outside, very best of both worlds. Hannah Montana who?

Modern social media platforms are designed to be addictive and all-encompassing. Like people with AI now, for example. It may start out as fun, but it can turn into an addiction for people, especially if they already have an addictive personality. Social media has become that, especially with my generation. It isn’t used as a connection point anymore; it’s become its own toxic ecosystem that has a chokehold on people’s lives.

I don’t even know if we can use the term “in real life” anymore when describing our lives outside the internet. The two worlds have been fully blended since the 2010s, but 2020 sealed the deal. I’ve seen people in person become colder, too. Some of that internet troll personality is coming out in in-person interactions. Of course, other factors are driving this societal change too, but let’s not kid ourselves. Social media is behind a lot of negative things happening in society. I’m a social media manager, but I can admit that simple truth. Some very toxic, evil people feel emboldened online, and it can translate into real life.

The internet has always had issues. Even with the lack of cohesion and speed on the early web, it was still way better without algorithms controlling everything. Today’s algorithms on big social media platforms lead to division across every part of our society. Back then, the internet and social media felt like a way to connect and learn new things. Nowadays, it seems like people use it to bully and project their inner misery onto other people. I think that’s why I’ve been so nostalgic for the old web since around 2015. Of course, things can’t stay the same forever, and recreating the past will always be futile. I learned the hard way: in 2016, I tried making a very old-school coded website, like it was straight from 2002. The website, of course, didn’t work out because it was too outdated. You can reference the past, but it still needs updating. An important lesson I still carry with me daily.

In my work, whether it be with my new social media management venture, my tarot business, or my personal creative work, I try to infuse that old internet spirit while still adding a new twist. I want the freedom not to be chained to one platform, to go against the grain, and to express my identity or my clients’ unique identities. You can still weave that uniqueness into your content while still playing by the algorithm, even if subtly.

Even older generations get a lot, or sometimes all, of their news from social media. A study found that 43% to 48% of people in the Boomer generation use social media networks as a news source. (Statista) Also, around 83.9% of boomers, according to a study, say that social media has improved their lives. (Appleton) That number is way higher than younger generations. I say all of this to say that more creators and prominent people with voices need to challenge the algorithms more.

A lot of politicians and bad actors also take advantage of the algorithms to spread lies and propaganda (especially right now with the U.S. midterms coming up). People can keep saying the internet isn’t real life, but I disagree. Often, people’s true colors show through their online conduct and what they think they can do “anonymously” online.

A lot of people play into the algorithms for validation and to fit in. Of course, brands and creators have to lean into it as well; I know this well. This can be negative for social media, though. Because of the commercialization, social media has become way more uniform, like how architecture in real life all has the same look now. The decline of individuality and originality has been steadily happening since the 2000s. Still, I feel like not always playing into algorithms, the obvious choice, and carving a corner of the internet for yourself could really help combat these issues.

I’m not claiming to be some expert web designer; I’m a social media manager. There’s a difference, but I’ve made it a mission to get more versed in coding. I think it’s time we start taking ownership back from these big corporations and social media companies that hold our data like supplies in a doomsday bunker. At the end of the day, they’re all greedy billionaires. They have watered down the internet and turned it into a capitalist breeding ground and a way for the elite to promote the current “ideal.”

A positive element of social media is that people can speak out against evil governments, but certain platforms shut down that content, shadowban you, and/or demonetize you. I believe the internet needs regulations, and I also believe corporations shouldn’t be the ones running things. In fact, many people think we need regulations because of corporations. The thing is, though, the crazy new social media regulations currently being proposed in the U.S. are backed by some of these social media platforms, Meta, for example. Not sketchy at all, nothing to see here, allegedly.

Another example is influencers not disclosing their brand deals and no action being taken. As I said, it will take small steps from many internet and social media users to make a change, and that takes time. For example, what if everyone made their own unique web page again? Social media companies wouldn’t like that, though, because it would take you off their website, and then they can’t sell you something. That’s exactly why regular internet users need to take action against the current state of the web. That’s why I’m working on trying to decentralize myself from certain platforms. I still use the big platforms, but I think it’s important to invest time in my own online footprint.

Social media has bred a whole generation of overconsumers. The overconsumption promoted and normalized on TikTok, especially, is just sickening, especially when we’re in the middle of an environmental and financial crisis. What was once a place for creativity and invention is now a reductive HSN campaign. At the end of the day, the internet and social media are tools. I feel like that’s why the internet had a different spirit back then. People went online with an intention and a specific outcome they wanted to achieve. Despite the slow speeds, people persisted and still had more fun on the internet back then than now.

We’re in an age where we’re finally taking power back from corporations, but I think we’re overlooking social media and the internet in that fight. Corporations have taken over and turned the internet into a marketplace. It was bound to happen eventually; that’s just how life has been for a long time in every element. Something new and innovative pops off, then it becomes commercialized. If anything, we did get a lot of time without over-commercialization; I think the mid-to-late 2000s era of the web is a good example. I don’t mind promotion, but that’s all these algorithms promote anymore. There’s needs to be a balance, Yin Yang.

We aren’t as powerless as we think. We can slowly start taking power back online by starting our own web ventures and platforms. Also, so many people are waiting for the next social media platform, but what if the answer isn’t one platform or way of doing things, like how social media has been since 2012? What if we embrace exploring the internet as a whole again and give each platform a unique trait? I know mobile probably changed a lot, but honestly, people use that as an excuse to conform their platforms to the so-called “modern standard.” We’re having those issues with even the design of, like, fast food places now; when did McDonald’s become so bland? We already know the food is bad, but could the exterior at least look cute?

I’m very into referencing the old internet, but you can be creative and add your own spin without looking to the past. So many people I talk to have innovative ideas, but they are too worried to act on them. I understand; it’s easy to get shadow-banned on these platforms, and they have so many regulations now, not all of which are clearly communicated.

Since the internet is also out of its corny 1995-ass, teach-the-boomers phase, I feel like web etiquette isn’t discussed anymore. I sound like an old man, but so many people online act with no respect or manners. I’ll admit I’ve been like that before too, especially as a teenager. It can feel really tempting to take out your anger, for example, on someone you don’t know, but there is someone behind that screen. Well, not always anymore; I mean, we have AI behind profiles now, and I especially don’t want to hurt their feelings.

Another issue with web etiquette is that it’s hard to agree on, like it was on Web 1.0 and 2.0. The internet is huge now, and people stick to a few main platforms. People don’t respect the rules on those platforms because they don’t fully align with what that community and platform actually need. Many moderation teams now are just AI, and they wrongly flag people while ignoring people who actually violate their conduct rules.

To close out, with my new blog, I want to really discuss internet culture and specific figures on the internet. The old internet is one of my special interests, along with fan culture and psychology. Fan culture is closely tied to the internet, so I want to combine them. I am also going to discuss mental health, both internally for me and externally, including how social media has affected me growing up as a Gen Z social media baby crash dummy. Keep checking my website for updates. Lots more to come, and if you have any blog topic requests, feel free to email me here.

I sound like a teacher, but my homework for you, the reader, is this: what is one way you can start taking power back from the over-commercialization of the web? There are several ways: create your own web page and stay active with it, share links on your socials to other smaller, cool, active websites, cut back on commercial platforms, etc. I’ll cover a lot more in my future blog posts as well.

By the way, I’m a social media manager, so I’m not against social media; I love it, but I’ve seen it gradually decline because these huge corporations are ruining it. All the uniqueness is dead, both societally and online. Snapchat copies Instagram, and Instagram copies TikTok. We need new platforms with a standout, unique objective and mission statement. MySpace had a clear objective: music. There was still toxicity, but it had a much more positive vibe than the current internet culture and climate. Until next time, think of ways you can do your part to take the internet back for the people.

Citations:

“Baby Boomers, Seniors and Digital Media.” Carolyn’s Nonprofit Blog, 22 Apr. 2026, carolynmappleton.com/how-baby-boomers-are-embracing-digital-media/.

Godoy, Jody. “Exclusive: Meta Lobbies Congress for Protection from Child-Harm Lawsuits | Reuters.” Meta Lobbies Congress for Protection from Child-Harm Lawsuits, 18 June 2026, www.reuters.com/world/meta-lobbies-congress-protection-child-harm-lawsuits-2026-06-18/.

Statista Research Department, and Oct 17. “News Consumption on Social Media U.S. by Generation 2022.” Statista, 17 Oct. 2022, www.statista.com/statistics/1124159/us-generational-social-media-news/.

Last edit: Oct. 4th, 2026 @ 11:55PM

share this entry:

Ethan White