The Web Became Disconnected

I've been thinking a lot recently about what happened to the internet. Not the technology. The internet itself. 

Somewhere along the way, I think we lost something important.

The web used to reward curiosity, exploration and participation. Today, much of our online experience is shaped by feeds, algorithms and platforms. Conversations have become detached from the pages they're about, discovery increasingly optimises for engagement, and some of the web's most valuable knowledge is surprisingly difficult to find.

I don't think this was inevitable.

I think the web can become more open, more participatory and more connected again.

I've written a personal essay about why I believe that, what I think we've lost, and why I've become increasingly obsessed with this problem.