Resurrect the Old Web Published: 23 Sep, 2025 --- A local news story from Maine highlights middle schoolers using 90s-era landline telephones to call friends, emphasizing a simpler, more intentional communication style that contrasts sharply with today's digital environment. Critique of Modern Social Media Early social media was exciting, cozy, and focused on real connections without ads or endless content. Now, social platforms are noisy, addictive, and driven by algorithms designed to maximize user engagement. Many users and their friends feel distant or overwhelmed, leading some to delete social media apps altogether. Proposal: Blogs and RSS Feeds as a Solution Blogs and RSS feeds represent the "old web" model before social media dominance. Users subscribed to blogs via RSS feed readers. New posts would deliver directly to readers without intermediaries or ads. Blogs can take various forms: Personal serious posts. Casual thoughts, ideas, and internet finds (as on the author’s "bear blog"). This model revives genuine connections, community, and sharing without the noise. The Author’s Initiative: Bear Blog Launching a bear blog with a dedicated feeds page. The feeds page lists blogs the author follows, encouraging readers to explore and follow those blogs themselves. No need for centralized social platforms—just links and RSS readers. Encourages creating personal blog pages, forming modern "web rings" and networks through hyperlinks. Sample Blogs Followed polluterofminds bear blog syndicated debatable views gramajo's blog blog.vrypan.net vitalik.eth How to Join and Stay Updated The author provides a YouTube video tutorial explaining how to get started. Recommends using an RSS reader to manage subscriptions—plenty of options available: Feeder.co (generous free plan) Self-hosted tools like Yarr for developers. Personal favorite: NetNewsWire for MacOS and iOS. Closing Thoughts It’s uncertain whether this approach will gain traction or be broadly meaningful. The landline phone story demonstrates that people have autonomy in how they communicate—social media’s dopamine traps aren't inevitable. The author is hopeful about collectively reviving the simplicity, autonomy, and connection of the old web through blogs and RSS feeds. --- Powered by Bear Blog