Fun Internet Theory

I came across this post by @Jo , that captured a feeling I’ve had for a long time:

“Fun internet Theory” states that there are still a lot of cool and interesting things to do online.

This is a reference to the Dead Internet Theory, which states that the internet is invaded with bots and algorithmic slop.

(The theory has way more strange and absurd ramifications if you dig far enough. They are not worth your time, so this is the basic understanding most people have when they hear the term.)

I love how positive this definition of the Fun Internet Theory is. It’s an optimism that is more realistic than you might think.

You see, I refuse to think of the internet as what is being served by algorithms and mainstream social media. It’s as absurd as looking at the top grossing films every year and being like “Man, all movies are the same these days”.

The old internet, or at least the part we cherish, did not disappear. It wasn’t replaced by bots; we got our attention stolen from it.

We’ve deluded ourselves into thinking that social media (and thus the web) is all there is to see. That you must keep up with international news and the discourse of the day. You must hold an opinion and defend it, or at least find people that confirm your biases.

I refuse to think that the internet is only this.

The other thing I love about Fun Internet Theory is that it states that there are a lot of cool things to do on the web.

The internet is a much sadder place when all you do is consume passively whatever is delivered to you this day. Instead, being active should be at the forefront. But being active doesn’t mean you need to run your own website! It starts with you being more involved in what you see and how you interact with it.

This is not only gonna bring you to interesting places, interesting people (like you!), but it’s also way more satisfying! Even if from the outside view you are missing out on the daily noise.

So go, explore the weirder parts of the web! Weird wiki on a specific topic, obscure game on itch.io, small musician on Soundcloud, or random people’s blog.

But even better, be a part of it!

Comment on someone’s post, share a montage of your favorite game screenshot, seed a torrent, make a meme! Or make friends and help people in a small Discord server!

Do cool things on the internet, because there are and always will be a lot of cool and interesting things to do :)