Miss "The Old Internet"? Here's How to Bring it Back.

Summary

The video script from DistroTube discusses the nostalgia for the early internet era, where individual websites and blogs flourished without the influence of major tech corporations. The speaker encourages the creation and promotion of small, independent websites as a personal space free from censorship. They reminisce about their own fan page from the mid-2000s and advocate for the revival of 'Links Pages' to help discover and support niche, interesting websites that are often overshadowed by algorithm-driven platforms.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses a common sentiment of nostalgia for the 'old internet', where it was less controlled by large corporations and more about individual creativity and exploration.
• 🌐 There's a current resurgence in creating and promoting small, independent websites as a reaction to the dominance of big tech platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Google.
• 🏠 The speaker advocates for having one's own website as a personal space free from potential censorship by major platforms.
• 🤔 The speaker challenges the audience to name five small websites they regularly visit, highlighting the difficulty in thinking of such sites due to their rarity in our browsing habits.
• 📝 The speaker reminisces about their own experience with running a fan website in the mid-2000s, emphasizing the personal touch and 'soul' of such sites.
• 🔗 The script mentions the importance of 'Links Pages' or 'Blog Rolls' from the past as a way to discover and connect with other small, interesting websites.
• 💌 The speaker talks about the practice of exchanging links with other website owners to promote each other's content, a method that fostered a community feeling.
• 📚 The video script includes a call to action for small website owners to revive the 'Links Page' concept to help users discover more niche content.
• 🔍 The speaker criticizes the difficulty of finding quality small websites through search engines, which tend to favor larger, more optimized corporate sites.
• 📈 The video suggests that having a Links Page can help small websites gain visibility and recommends this strategy to other creators.
• 🚀 The final message is about looking forward and creating something new and valuable rather than just longing for the past, encouraging action to improve the current state of the web.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by DistroTube?

The main topic of the video is a critique and nostalgia for the 'old internet', discussing how it was less controlled by giant corporations and more about individual websites and personal blogs.

What is the speaker's opinion on the resurgence of small websites?

The speaker supports the resurgence of small websites and believes that having one's own website can provide a place free from big tech platform censorship.

Why does the speaker think it's difficult to name five small websites off the top of their head?

The speaker finds it difficult because they don't visit many independent websites regularly, and there is a lack of easy discoverability for such sites.

What was the speaker's contribution to the 'good old days' of the internet?

The speaker had their own fan page website for the Nintendo game series Kirby during the mid-2000s, which they hosted on a free web host.

What was the purpose of 'Links Page' or 'Blog roll' on websites back then?

The 'Links Page' or 'Blog roll' was used to link to other websites that the site owner found interesting, serving as a way to discover and promote smaller, independent websites.

How did the speaker promote their website during the mid-2000s?

The speaker would email the owners of more popular websites, asking them to add a link to their page in exchange for linking back to the popular site.

What is the speaker's view on the current state of finding interesting websites through search engines?

The speaker believes that search engines often prioritize large corporate websites over small, interesting ones due to search engine optimization tactics.

What is the speaker's suggestion for small website owners to improve discoverability?

The speaker suggests that small website owners should create a 'Links Page' on their site, linking to other blogs or websites they find interesting.

Why does the speaker believe that having a 'Links Page' can help the internet ecosystem?

The speaker believes that a 'Links Page' can help small websites link to each other, making it easier for users to discover and explore diverse content beyond the reach of big tech algorithms.

What does the speaker propose to do with their own website?

The speaker plans to revive the 'Links Page' concept on their own website to provide a curated list of interesting blogs and websites they like to read.

What is the speaker's stance on the idea of looking back at the past versus creating something new?

The speaker prefers looking forward and creating something new and valuable rather than just reminiscing about the past.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Nostalgia for the Old Internet and the Rise of Small Websites

The speaker begins by discussing a video from 'distro tube' that reflects on the internet's evolution, expressing a common sentiment of longing for the pre-corporate era where individual websites and blogs were more prevalent. The video suggests a resurgence in small websites, with guides on YouTube advocating for personal web spaces free from big tech censorship. The speaker acknowledges the value of owning a website but challenges the audience to name five small, non-corporate websites they regularly visit, highlighting the difficulty of doing so. The speaker admits their own struggle in naming such sites and expresses a desire to know more. They reminisce about their teenage years in the mid-2000s when they ran a fan page for the Kirby game series, describing the DIY spirit of the web at that time. They talk about the practice of linking to other sites as a means of promotion and community building, a practice they wish to revive with their own 'Links Page' on their website.

05:02

🔗 Reviving the Link Page for a Better Internet

In the second paragraph, the speaker continues the discussion on the importance of small websites and introduces the concept of a 'Links Page' as a solution to the discoverability problem faced by these sites. They argue that without such pages, it's nearly impossible to find interesting, small websites through search engines like Google, which tend to favor larger, SEO-optimized corporate sites. The speaker proposes that website owners should create 'Links Pages' to connect with and promote other small websites, fostering a network that is not controlled by algorithms. They offer to include interesting websites sent to them via email on their own 'Links Page', emphasizing the need for content quality over mere links. The speaker concludes by encouraging creators to adopt this practice to revitalize the 'mini web' and improve the overall internet experience, rather than just lamenting the past.

Keywords

💡Internet

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers that share information and resources. In the video, it is portrayed as having evolved from a more decentralized, hobbyist-driven space to a landscape dominated by major corporations. The script laments the loss of the 'old internet' and the rise of corporate control, which is central to the video's theme of nostalgia and the desire for a return to a more individualistic online experience.

💡Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. The video script expresses nostalgia for the early days of the Internet, where individual websites and personal blogs were more prevalent and not overshadowed by large corporations. The speaker yearns for a time when the Internet was less centralized and more diverse, reflecting a common sentiment among those who have experienced the Internet's evolution.

💡Corporations

Corporations in this context refer to large, often multinational, business entities such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google, which the script suggests have come to control significant portions of the Internet's content and user experience. The video criticizes this control, implying that it stifles the diversity and individuality that once characterized the Internet.

💡Individual Websites

Individual websites are personal or small-scale online platforms created by hobbyists or enthusiasts, often for sharing interests or showcasing personal projects. The script contrasts these with the homogenized content of corporate platforms, emphasizing the unique, personal touch that individual sites bring to the Internet and the importance of reviving this aspect of online culture.

💡Censorship

Censorship refers to the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. In the script, the concern is that large tech platforms may impose censorship, restricting the freedom of expression that was more common on the 'old internet.' The speaker advocates for individual websites as a means to escape potential censorship.

💡Resurgence

Resurgence means a new and vigorous occurrence of something that had previously declined or disappeared. The script mentions a recent resurgence in small websites, suggesting a growing interest in returning to a more decentralized and diverse Internet, where individual voices can be heard without the influence of major corporations.

💡Link Pages

Link pages, also known as blogrolls, are web pages containing links to other sites, typically chosen by the site owner for their relevance or interest. The script discusses the historical use of link pages to discover new and interesting websites, contrasting this with the current difficulty of finding quality, independent content on the Internet without the aid of search engine algorithms.

💡Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

SEO is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic by ranking higher in search engine results. The video script criticizes the reliance on SEO, suggesting that it favors corporate websites that know how to 'play the game' over smaller, more authentic sites that may not rank as highly in search results.

💡Algorithm

An algorithm is a set of rules or steps used to solve a problem or perform a computation. In the context of the video, algorithms refer to the processes used by platforms like YouTube and Google to determine the content that users see. The script implies that these algorithms often favor popular or corporate content over smaller, independent creators.

💡Hobby

A hobby is an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. The script uses the term to describe the motivations behind creating individual websites in the past, emphasizing the passion and personal investment that went into these projects, as opposed to the commercial or corporate motivations that might drive content creation today.

💡Minimal Web

The term 'minimal web' is not explicitly defined in the script, but it can be inferred to refer to a simplified or stripped-down version of the Internet, focusing on the core elements of personal expression and community rather than commercialization and corporate control. The speaker encourages adding link pages to contribute to this vision of a revitalized, more interconnected web of small, independent sites.

Highlights

The video discusses the nostalgia for the old internet era before it was dominated by major corporations.

Back in the day, the internet was filled with individual websites and personal blogs created as hobbies.

There's a recent resurgence in creating and promoting small, independent websites.

YouTube channels are offering guides on starting your own website to avoid censorship from big tech platforms.

The speaker agrees with the idea of having a personal website as a personal space free from corporate control.

The challenge of naming five small websites that are regularly visited is highlighted.

The speaker wishes to know more independent websites but finds it difficult to discover them.

The speaker reminisces about having their own fan website in the mid-2000s for the Nintendo game series Kirby.

Link pages were common in the past, allowing website owners to connect and promote each other's content.

Promotion of websites in the past involved emailing website owners for link exchanges.

The speaker suggests that having a Links Page can help in finding and promoting small, interesting websites.

The speaker's website features a Links Page with various blogs and YouTube channels they find interesting.

The importance of not relying solely on search engine algorithms for content discovery is emphasized.

The speaker encourages small website owners to create a Links Page to promote other similar sites.

The speaker invites viewers to email their interesting websites for potential inclusion on the Links Page.

The speaker criticizes websites that are essentially just a few links with no substantial content.

The speaker advocates for a proactive approach to improving the web rather than just lamenting the past.

Transcripts

I was recently watching this video by

distro tube and you can probably guess

what this video is about just by looking

at the title and the thumbnail it's

another one of these old people rants

about the internet

and how back in the day the internet was

so much better because it wasn't

controlled by just a few giant

corporations like Twitter and Facebook

and Google and back in the day you

actually had individual websites that

you can go to that people just set up as

a hobby and you could go explore

everybody's individual blog and

everything like that and it's a good

video I'll leave a link to it in the

description if you want to check it out

but you've probably seen videos like

this you've probably seen videos of the

same genre people that are just

nostalgic for the old internet just

wishing that we could turn back time and

go back to the good old days but there

has been kind of a Resurgence in small

websites recently and if you look on

some YouTube channels they'll have

guides on how to start your own website

and why you should start your own

website because you can finally have a

place that you can call home and you're

not going to be censored by any big Tech

platforms and I do agree having your own

website is a very good thing but just

off the top of your head how many small

websites like this can you name like

just try to name five small websites

obviously nothing run by a giant

Corporation or a company just a small

website as maybe somebody's passion

project or hobby some small blog that

you enjoy reading just put together by

one person or a small handful of people

and if you're like me I have a really

hard time thinking of five websites that

actually visit semi-regularly if you

give me a little bit of time I can think

of five but it does take me a while to

think of and that's because I just don't

go to that many independent websites and

the thing is I wish I knew more of them

like if you're watching this video you

probably have the same kind of feelings

about Facebook Twitter Youtube you don't

like the giant centralized nature of

these companies and you wish that

everything could go back to the way it

was before but a lot of the reason why

people use these giant Services is just

because they couldn't tell you any

interesting small websites and I was

actually around for the good old days of

the internet and I kind of contributed

to it in a small way so back in the day

when I was just a teenager in mid-2000s

I had my own website it was a fan page

of my favorite Nintendo game series at

the time Kirby and I had a little fan

page that I just hosted on some free web

host it looked exactly how you would

expect it to The Graphic Design was

terrible but it did have a little bit of

soul and I remember back then if you

wanted to find some cool websites for

your hobby or for some specific thing

that you were interested in what you

would do is a lot of these websites had

link pages so something like this this

is a link page that I had on my website

and back in the day all kinds of

websites would have these

it would either be called Links Page or

a Blog role and it would just link to a

whole bunch of other websites that the

person who writes this website finds

interesting and it was a great way that

you could find other websites so the way

I promoted my website back then is I

would go to a more popular website and

back then you could just email the owner

of a website and say hey could you leave

a link to my page I'll link back to

yours and they would add to your page

you can add their page to your Links

Page and everybody's happy everybody

benefits and back in the day I would

just spend all day surfing through these

various websites you can find so many

cool things they would have their own

web forums and other various pages that

you can go to with just the most obscure

information that you've ever seen in

your life I know I'm being a little bit

hypocritical here because my website

doesn't have that much content I do want

to add more in the future I'll probably

have a Blog here at some point in the

future but I wanted to kind of bring

this Links Page back to life because

even if you look at the websites of a

lot of people who promote small

independent websites like this they're

not going going to have links to any

other pages that are similar to theirs

maybe you'll be lucky and you'll be

reading a blog post and they'll leave a

link somewhere buried deep within a blog

post but it's going to be very difficult

to find any other websites in the same

Niche if you're interested just because

they don't have a page like this with a

whole bunch of links on it and so on

this page I have put various blogs that

I like to read some of them are similar

to the content that I post in this

channel like this one is about free and

open source software some of them are

just about things that I find

interesting like this lifestyle blog

which is about not being a wasteful

consumer and going into debt buying a

bunch of garbage that you don't need and

if you go on a website like this you can

actually just browse around it all day

and find all kinds of interesting

articles and thoughts and it's really

rare that you come across a website like

this these days so I wanted to make it a

little bit easier for people to find

something like this there's some

interesting websites on here

there are some YouTube channels worth

watching because YouTube also has the

same problem and that is controlled by

the algorithm so most of the time it's

going to be very difficult to find some

small Channel with good content on it so

I think this is a good way to get some

recommendations of some good websites

and YouTube channels and it's a way to

get recommendations that isn't

controlled by a giant algorithm because

of course if you don't have a page like

this it is very difficult to find these

most of them are not going to come up in

a search engine of course if you're used

to Google by now you know that if you

search for something you're not going to

find a small interesting website like

this you're just going to find some

giant corporate website that has played

the search engine optimization game and

even if their content is really garbage

they know how to play the game and

appeal to all of Google's algorithms to

rank higher so unless you're doing a

very Niche or technical search it is

very unlikely that you're going to come

across a cool website like this and

that's another reason why I think that

this is a great idea I know I'm not an

influencer I'm not going to start a

revolution with this video but if you

have a salon website like this I would

encourage you to put a Links Page as

well on your website

and just link to some other blogs or

websites that you find interesting and

you know what I'm putting this out there

if you want me to link your website on

this page as well you can send me an

email of course make sure that I have

some actually interesting content on it

one thing that I hate the most is when

somebody has a website but it's

literally just a blank page with a few

links to their GitHub and their Twitter

with like one paragraph about themselves

it is literally the most useless website

there is out there so do try to have at

least something on your website that's

interesting and how about this you also

have to put a Links Page on your website

as well linking some cool other pages

and if you email me your website and it

looks interesting I'll put it up here as

well but I think this could be a good

idea just to breathe some life back into

the minimal web maybe you can spam your

favorite creators that also have a

website to have a Links Page like this

as well because the biggest reason why

people use these websites like Reddit is

just because it's impossible to find

these small websites and if you do find

a website like this maybe it has like

three blog posts and they're from 2018

it's obvious that no one actually takes

care of the website anymore so the more

small websites linking to other small

websites I think the better the internet

will be so add a Links Page to your

website if you think that this is a

great idea if you think it's a terrible

idea leave me a comment and let's

actually work to make the web a better

place instead of just complaining about

what it used to be

oh with the good old days if only we

could go back there is a time and a

place for that but I would much rather

look forward and create something that

actually worth visiting rather than just

reminiscing about the past that's it now

go out and create something cool