🔥 just for like... The Internet as a concept in general. what is your wisdom
see i saw this really good post a while ago that talked about just that- how early internet felt more like a land with no set rulers, where people were still experimenting with all of the possibilities and things that could be done, corporations not really having a hold on it yet. and how now the internet has been dominated by everyone, your familys there, and everyone is connected.
im not here to be as cynical though, i feel like to a certain point its good that we can communicate so easily and people have more access to information now. but i think that DOES explain the feeling of nostalgia about early days internet. all the overly specific pages about funny pointless inconsequential stuff made me happy. the rise and fall of forum based pet games. the golden age of doll makers and flash games.
thing is, we can romanticize early internet all we want. it was still also a perfect breeding ground for weird, gross shit, and for kids to get exposed to stuff they definitely shouldnt be looking at, and that could be traumatizing, or at the very least, give them nightmares for weeks, just because someone decided to be an asshole.
in the end, your time on the internet is defined by you and your choices. i was always a very shy and cautious kid, so i spent my time playing flash games and going into kids sites. the most i had was messenger with my sister and some school friends. i rarely had run ins with actually bad stuff, and when i did, i knew how to jump out. maybe other kids werent so lucky though. but i was, and thats why im privileged to say i have good memories of my early years on the internet.
the internet can never be good or bad. its a tool. like pencils or hammers. the internet is what you make of it.