Why Millennials Have Grown Distant from the Internet

Is the digital world truly more chaotic now, or is it just part of our aging perception?

If you feel surrounded by digital clutter and provocative content online, you are not experiencing this alone.

Online outrage is becoming so prevalent that 'rage bait' might soon gain formal recognition as a defining term. For those of us born during the '80s and '90s, we probably recall a time when the internet felt different: accessing a terminal at the library or home to print song lyrics, updating your blogs on LiveJournal, or deliberating over your MySpace Top 8.

These days have disappeared, but Max Read, a writer with a technology and culture-focused Substack, remembers this era too. "I used to visit website hubs like FARK," he shared on Vox’s podcast 'Explain It to Me.' "As I grew older, Metafilter became another place for engaging in discussions within the comments, leading to discoveries of web comics, bloggers, and more."

Read observes that the current online realm is vastly distinct from earlier times.

"Back then, we had fewer colossal platforms which dominate the internet, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok — sites where endless hours can pass without needing to leave," he noted.

The Evolution of the Internet Landscape

What led to this expansion and were these changes unavoidable? Max Read delved into this topic during 'Explain It to Me.' Here’s a tailored segment from our talk.

To catch the whole discussion, search for the episode on your preferred podcast platform. Feel free to send questions to askvox@vox.com or call 1-800-618-8545.

Two main transformations have defined the internet shift. The initial wave, starting nearly two decades ago, was marked by Facebook's launch of the newsfeed in 2006. Although initially met with resistance, data showed increased user engagement, enticing people to return frequently. This model has dominated our online interactions since.

The second major shift came with TikTok’s introduction of the 'For You' page concept. This algorithm-driven feature suggests unique and engaging content, fostering a distinctive and more individually tailored internet experience.

Have Algorithms Altered the Internet's Essence?

The impact of algorithms is twofold.

While they've expanded and enhanced user interaction online, they're central to this transformation, contributing to the data-driven structure we witness today.

Considerations arise from what someone like Mark Zuckerberg might argue: despite criticisms, user metrics show prolonged engagement on platforms like Facebook. Users feel their online time is better utilized with algorithm-guided content.

Some argue that user satisfaction is genuinely higher with feeds tailored by algorithms compared to Facebook's previous format.

Could Websites Profit Without Losing Their Integrity?

Wikipedia exemplifies a different online path. As vast as any major platform, its contributions to the web exceed even those of Facebook. Wikipedia’s success isn’t just structural; it’s cultural, thanks to Jimmy Wales, the Wikimedia Foundation, and dedicated volunteers who keep it an open resource.

This culture prevents it from descending into lower web tones, unlike other major sites shaped by a tech culture not valuing such principles.

Aging with the Internet

Facing middle age, millennials must confront the fact that they are no longer the primary digital demographic.

Gone are our days as the digital frontrunners. Now an even younger generation, more entwined with the internet than even us, possesses greater digital engagement. This global digital arena includes and excludes content not tailored for us.

While the structural integrity of the internet might feel diminished compared to twenty years ago, the notion that the old internet will return is unrealistic. The shift emphasizes that retreating to close-knit digital spaces like group chats is perhaps the most we can do.