Save the Web by Being Nice

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the decline of the "old web" and the rise of social media, video, and mobile devices, which have changed the landscape of online content creation and consumption. However, the author argues that the web is not entirely dead, and there are still pockets of the old web that can be kept alive through individual efforts.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Decline of the Old Web

1. What are the key factors that have contributed to the decline of the "old web" according to the author?

• The rise of social media
• The lure of video
• The corruption of SEO
• The challenges posed by mobile devices, which are "effectively useless for text content creation and difficult to build pages for that also look good on desktop screens"

2. How does the author describe the current state of the web? The author states that the old web is "mostly dead" but "partly alive", meaning that it is not completely dead, but has been significantly diminished.

[02] Keeping the Old Web Alive

1. What are the two best things the author suggests to keep the old web partly alive?

1. Maintain your own content, such as starting a blog, joining a forum, or creating a podcast.
2. Show support for web pages you enjoy by engaging with them, such as liking, commenting, sharing, or even financially supporting the content.

2. Why does the author suggest using social media to share content, even though they profess to dislike it? The author acknowledges that they are a "huge hypocrite" but argues that social media would be less objectionable if it didn't try to "embrace everything in one place". Sharing content on social media can expose your friends to interesting pages while also "cracking the shell to the outside world just a little".

3. What is the author's personal experience with trying to support the old web? The author has been "posting and 'boosting' links on Mastodon, and occasionally contacting authors and podcasters directly to let them know that at least one person has enjoyed what they are doing". The author's experience has been "nothing but positive".