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A eulogy for LiveJournal
Feb. 12th, 2019 08:36 pmI came across this article today on ArsTechnica, in which people who were involved in the earliest days of LiveJournal are quoted (including the creators of Dreamwidth!). Here is the link:
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/the-linux-of-social-media-how-livejournal-pioneered-then-lost-web-blogging/?comments=1
The article briefly chronicles the rise and fall of LiveJournal. Like many recent articles about the days of pre-Facebook Internet communication, there is a tone of wistfulness and a sentiment that things were so much better back then (as far as the Internet and how we communicate on it). And I can't help but feel the same way. I really miss truly sharing my thoughts and feelings with my friends online, not just scrolling down a feed and pressing "like" buttons or heart-shaped buttons like some trained lab rat. For a while now (the past few years?) I've tried to think of ways of bringing more meaningful communication on the Internet back in my life and avoiding the control of major social media networks, but recently, I've been feeling a sense of despair. I realize that there's no bringing back the days of interacting the way we did on LiveJournal, even with Dreamwidth (I still think this platform is great and I will always try to support in any way I can)...the user base is no longer there...they (and I along with them?) have been lost to Facebook and Instagram. I'm not going to convince any of my friends and family to leave Facebook-controlled social networks...they are way too comfortable there. Social engagement on Facebook is the new norm, even if you want to escape their surveillance.
Those pre-Facebook platforms, they were a golden age that we can only look back on in wistfulness. Perhaps a new "golden age" of Internet communication is yet to come, but I don't know if it will happen any time soon. As I thought about this earlier today, my thoughts took a dark turn and had the thought that perhaps this era of improved online discourse and communication won't happen in my lifetime...
Perhaps this feeling is just a result of my age. I'm sure there are teenagers now who will look back and reminisce about their interactions on Snapchat or TikTok or be nostalgic about their frolicking on Instagram. OMG...this is really turning maudlin. Oh well, I guess that's why I feel so comfortable posting stuff like this on here...not that many people are going to see this ;-) If you are one of the few that did...thank you for tolerating my rambling. There are the thoughts that run around my head and I just need to get them out.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/01/the-linux-of-social-media-how-livejournal-pioneered-then-lost-web-blogging/?comments=1
The article briefly chronicles the rise and fall of LiveJournal. Like many recent articles about the days of pre-Facebook Internet communication, there is a tone of wistfulness and a sentiment that things were so much better back then (as far as the Internet and how we communicate on it). And I can't help but feel the same way. I really miss truly sharing my thoughts and feelings with my friends online, not just scrolling down a feed and pressing "like" buttons or heart-shaped buttons like some trained lab rat. For a while now (the past few years?) I've tried to think of ways of bringing more meaningful communication on the Internet back in my life and avoiding the control of major social media networks, but recently, I've been feeling a sense of despair. I realize that there's no bringing back the days of interacting the way we did on LiveJournal, even with Dreamwidth (I still think this platform is great and I will always try to support in any way I can)...the user base is no longer there...they (and I along with them?) have been lost to Facebook and Instagram. I'm not going to convince any of my friends and family to leave Facebook-controlled social networks...they are way too comfortable there. Social engagement on Facebook is the new norm, even if you want to escape their surveillance.
Those pre-Facebook platforms, they were a golden age that we can only look back on in wistfulness. Perhaps a new "golden age" of Internet communication is yet to come, but I don't know if it will happen any time soon. As I thought about this earlier today, my thoughts took a dark turn and had the thought that perhaps this era of improved online discourse and communication won't happen in my lifetime...
Perhaps this feeling is just a result of my age. I'm sure there are teenagers now who will look back and reminisce about their interactions on Snapchat or TikTok or be nostalgic about their frolicking on Instagram. OMG...this is really turning maudlin. Oh well, I guess that's why I feel so comfortable posting stuff like this on here...not that many people are going to see this ;-) If you are one of the few that did...thank you for tolerating my rambling. There are the thoughts that run around my head and I just need to get them out.
