dreaming of a better internet
sari and
dreaming of a better internet
Large parasocial platforms transformed the internet into a hostile and impersonal place. They feed our FOMO to keep us clicking. They exaggerate our differences for "engagement". They create engines for stardom to keep us creeping. They bait us into nutritionless and sensationalist content. Humanity cannot subsist on hype alone.
Small and sincere... See more
Small and sincere... See more
The internet doesn’t have to demand our presence the way it currently does. It shouldn’t be something we have to look at all time. If it wasn’t, maybe we’d finally be free to hang out. The first time I ever heard about Facebook, back in 2004, was from someone proudly declaring that she had just spent four hours using it. At the time, it was... See more
Drew Austin • It's Time to Lie Down and Be Counted
As builders of a new digital society, we must be equipped with an even more inclusive and visionary concept of what "public" and "good" can mean.
Sam Hart • Positive Sum Worlds: Remaking Public Goods
Humanity is capable of so much more.
oneproject.org
We’ve long had the sense that it’s possible to cultivate an experience on the Internet that is more calm, thoughtful, and introspective. And we’ve long had the view that this is possible not from a technology-oriented approach, but from an approach that is more soft, more personal, and more intuitive.
are.na • On Motivation
Bluesky acts more like a particularly large Discord server--a place to socialize, bullshit, banter, and kill time--than it does like a proper Twitter replacement. For many people I think this is fine; I’m not sure how much the world needs a “Twitter replacement” anyway. But the distinction is still important. Part of what’s made Twitter so
... See moreBrian Merchant • Bluesky's Success Is a Rejection of Big Tech's Operating System
There seems to be this general dissatisfaction with the internet from users, but there doesn't seem to be any real change in making the internet more fun. Do you see it getting better?
Embedded • How Taylor Lorenz Went From Tumblr Queen to Internet Historian
Calm Tech, Then and Now
An interview with John Seely Brown on the concept of calm technology, its origins, and its application in designing user interfaces for a more seamless and calming experience.
johnseelybrown.comGod, I mean, I think capitalism has infiltrated almost everything on the internet at this point. I think the reason a lot of people are spending more time in group chats and discord servers is because it's a reaction to all of this. They want spaces to express themselves that are free from algorithms and brands.