Nostalgic Internet: We Never Lost the Toxicity, We Just Forgot It

A wave of nostalgia has recently swept the internet, with many yearning for a friendlier, simpler online world of 20 years ago. However, this article argues that this nostalgia overlooks the inherent toxicity and problems that existed even then. It explores the evolution of the internet, how platforms became dominated by large corporations, and the proliferation of hate speech and data extraction. Some view the internet as a failed utopia, while others remain hopeful, advocating for solutions such as reclaiming digital sovereignty and supporting self-organized projects to rebuild a kinder, fairer online space.