Before Web 2.0, the internet felt like a blank canvas. People actually made stuff. You’d write your own blog, mess around with HTML, throw in some GIFs and a music player just because you could. It was messy but personal. You weren’t just scrolling you were actually building.
Now it’s different. I don’t post. I barely comment. Sometimes I double-tap just to prove I’m still conscious. The algorithm already knows what I like, so it just feeds me stuff. I can scroll for hours and leave zero trace besides all the data it’s collecting behind the scenes. It is so detached and disconnected from real intention.
That shift from creating to just consuming is a huge change in how we use the internet. Early platforms gave you tools and said go make something. You had profile editors, blogs, even little janky Photoshop knockoffs. The whole vibe was: your input matters. Interaction design was focused on helping people create, not just scroll. There is too much accessibility and content out there.
Now it’s all about keeping things smooth. Autoplay, infinite scroll, and swiping with one thumb so you never have to think. You can still make stuff, but it’s hidden behind a plus button and way too many filters and panels. It’s easy, sure, but it’s not the default anymore.