You Should Check Out the Indie Web

One Sentence Summary

The video explores the indie web as a personal, decentralized alternative to mainstream social media and Web3.

Main Points

1. The indie web consists of small, personal websites built by individuals, not corporations.
2. Discovering indie sites relies on exploration, links, web rings, and archives, not algorithms.
3. Neocities is a modern platform inspired by Geocities, emphasizing free, static web hosting.
4. Personal websites reflect the creator's interests, passions, and identity, not commercial branding.
5. The indie web promotes privacy, free expression, and community over monetization.
6. It values nostalgia but also aims for progress, collective action, and queer representation.
7. Historically, the internet connected people more directly, exemplified by early walled gardens like Prodigy.
8. Modern social media often isolates users, creating noise and reducing genuine connection.
9. Building a personal website is accessible and can be a fulfilling way to reclaim online space.
10. Resources and communities exist to help newcomers start their own indie web presence.

Takeaways

1. Embrace the indie web as a space for authentic self-expression and community building.
2. Use tools like archive.org and smaller search engines to discover hidden or forgotten sites.
3. Consider creating your own personal website to control your online presence.
4. Support platforms like Neocities and communities like Yesterweb for guidance and inspiration.
5. Recognize the importance of intentional online spaces for connection, privacy, and creativity.

Websites/Videos mentioned in this video:

• My personal site: http://youvegotkat.neocities.org
• Neocities: http://neocities.org
• The Yesterweb: http://yesterweb.org
• The Internet Archive: http://archive.org
• Marginalia Search: https://search.marginalia.nu/explore/random
• Web3 Is Bullshit: https://www.stephendiehl.com/blog/web3-bullshit.html
• Line Goes Up (like you need a link to this lol): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ_xWvX1n9g&ab_channel=FoldingIdeas

Music:

Shikotomoto

Songs used:

• The Past
• Spirited Away Station
• Remnants of the Festival