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
- The indie web consists of small, personal websites built by individuals, not corporations.
- Discovering indie sites relies on exploration, links, web rings, and archives, not algorithms.
- Neocities is a modern platform inspired by Geocities, emphasizing free, static web hosting.
- Personal websites reflect the creator's interests, passions, and identity, not commercial branding.
- The indie web promotes privacy, free expression, and community over monetization.
- It values nostalgia but also aims for progress, collective action, and queer representation.
- Historically, the internet connected people more directly, exemplified by early walled gardens like Prodigy.
- Modern social media often isolates users, creating noise and reducing genuine connection.
- Building a personal website is accessible and can be a fulfilling way to reclaim online space.
- Resources and communities exist to help newcomers start their own indie web presence.
Takeaways
- Embrace the indie web as a space for authentic self-expression and community building.
- Use tools like archive.org and smaller search engines to discover hidden or forgotten sites.
- Consider creating your own personal website to control your online presence.
- Support platforms like Neocities and communities like Yesterweb for guidance and inspiration.
- 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