How Algorithms Destroyed the Old Internet: An Expert Explains.

Transformation of the Internet: Memories of a Better Past

According to Vox: If you feel that the internet today is filled with hatred and trolling, you are not alone.

This tension in the network is felt by many people, and that is why Oxford defined the term 'rage bait' as the word of 2025. But if you were born in the 1980s or 1990s, you probably remember different times: days when you could access the internet in libraries or at home, printing song lyrics, writing in LiveJournal, or choosing your favorites on MySpace.

Memories and Changes in the Internet

Those times are long gone, but Max Reed also remembers that era. He is a writer and runs the Substack 'Read Max', dedicated to technology and culture.

“I used to visit sites that aggregated links, such as FARK,”

he says during one of the episodes of the show Explain It to Me.

“When I was a little older, Metafilter was another such site. There were discussions in the comments, and you could go to other sites to find webcomics and blogs.”

Reed notes that the modern internet is radically different.

“There are fewer major platforms — like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, where you can spend hours without leaving the site,”

he continues.

Reasons for Change

What caused these changes? Reed explains:

“I would say there were two major shifts. The first was almost 20 years ago, when in 2006 Facebook introduced the news feed. People protested, they didn't like it. But Facebook observed an increase in all metrics: engagement, time on site, number of visitors.”

This became the primary format for how we interact with the internet.

The second shift was the introduction of TikTok's 'For You' page concept, which dynamically shows you various videos, creating a new type of 'antisocial' internet.

Did Algorithms Kill the Internet?

Reed assures that there is no straightforward answer to this question.

“The algorithm also brought the internet to the level it has reached today: an unique amount of engagement.”

It is important to understand that while numerous indicators suggest one thing, surveys indicate that people feel time spent on platforms with algorithmic feeds is more productive.

Is There a Path for Higher Quality Content?

Reed also points to

“Wikipedia, which shows that a large site can be significant while maintaining quality.”

The culture of Wikipedia, created by Jimmy Wales and many volunteers, has helped it remain a free resource for all users. The problem with many large platforms lies in the lack of a culture that values quality content.

Generational Migration and Relationships with the Internet

In the end, the question is raised as to whether we have moved on from our generation's internet.

“Unfortunately, we have gotten older…,”

Reed says. Perhaps we are no longer the main users, as the new generation that grew up with the internet has become more active.

Amid other speeches, Reed notes that the internet we see today is global, and much of what is not interesting to us may be appealing to others.

The old internet is not coming back, and the only thing left to do is to enjoy communication in a small circle of friends.