Prismatic Blog

• Whatever Happened to Dollz?
  This is literally how my personal lore started.
• What Happened to Dollz Mania
  As a Brazilian who did not speak English at a young age, my references were only Brazilian websites. I guess Dollz Mania was to English-speaking girlies what Dolls.com.br was to me, and I think it’s beautiful.
• The Strange World of DeviantArt Bases
  Oh, DeviantArt, R.I.P. You’ll be missed.

• How I Made My Website – by Shar
  An illustrator and developer showing her process of making a personal website. Even though it’s a modern personal portfolio and slightly diverges from the “web revival spirit”, I bookmarked this video because I’m very fond of the design choices she made.
  
• So You Want to Make a Website… Where to Start? – by Luvstar Kei
  This is the video that made me ditch the initial plan of a “WordPress 2010s blog” in favour of a more 2000s handcoded approach. Thank you for that, Luvstar.

• BEST Study Routine that made me a TOP ACHIEVER (in HALF the time)
  I tried to use her study methods for my MA, although they are quite focused on exams. Since my modules are all about online presentations and written assignments, that method was not super ultra effective, but it’s still worth checking.

• Be Your Own Algorithm
  A very long video essay about algorithms and the current state of the web that directly opposes Kyle Chayka’s book “Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture“.
• How Social Media is Failing Artists & Why You Should Make a Personal Website Instead – by Luvstar Kei
  Another Luvstar video recommendation. The title is pretty much self-explanatory, but I like how this one explores the subject of artists being pushed away by algorithms.
• Whatever Happened to Profile Customization?
  Another personal lore video. I am what I am because of profile customisation. R.I.P Orkut, Neopets, Tumblr, ancient Twitter, and so many other sites that made me the woman I am today.
• Why Being Online Is So Exhausting Now
  Another video explaining what we already know: social media is no longer meant for connection, it’s meant for advertising ourselves as a product.
• Why is Social Media Not Fun Anymore?
  I really like Mina Le’s video essays.

• Miss “The Old Internet”? Here’s How to Bring it Back
  A video that encourages web exploration and links curation (a big reason why I made this page!).
• The Internet Used To Be a Place
  Remember when people had to sit in front of a desktop computer to log in? Not to mention dial-up connection.
• You Should Check Out the Indie Web
  This video is a bit outdated since the Yesterweb no longer exists, but I like how it contrasts “making personal websites” with the so-called “Web 3.0”.
• Why does every personal website look like this now?
  This video also pushed me into avoiding the super polished look of 2010’s WordPress.
• Why YOU Should Make a Website – by Luvstar Kei
  The Luvstar video that started their “indie web” series.

PSA: I know there is no such thing as “ethical consuming” under capitalism, but I couldn’t come up with a better title. Besides that, I don’t believe in stating “there is no ethical consumption under capitalism” as a way to avoid responsibility for your choices, but I also believe everyone knows where the shoe pinches and I am completely against “calling out people” or virtue signalling.

• Delete Spotify? Sure, But Don’t Just Replace it With Another Subscription
• How To Quit Spotify Right This Second

• Commentary on Social Quitting
  Why quitting social media is hard and how companies force users to keep their accounts active.
• The “Enshittification” of TikTok
  A well-done analysis of the modern social media “modus operandi“: if it’s free, then you are the product.
• Rules for thee but not for me – Internet purity culture
  I seriously want to live by this article. I could tattoo it on my forehead.

Links I’d show to people who know absolutely NOTHING about the “web revival movement”:

• IndieWeb
• The Indie Web for Everyone
• The Web Revival
• Relive the Internet of the ’90s With ‘Neocities’
• Neocities celebrates ‘the old internet,’ offering relief from 24/7 social feeds
• Neocities: Onde a internet ainda pode ser criativa (PT-PT)

Links I’d show to more experienced people:

• Digital Cargo Cult: How Zoomers Ruined Old Internet Nostalgia
• How the Blog Broke the Web
• Neocities and the (misguided) idolization of the old web

• A Brief History & Ethos of the Digital Garden
  Another approach for storing personal content on a website that differs completely from a chronological blog. I recommend How Soon Is Now?‘s digital garden for reference.

If you’ve been around on the small web for a while and you’re considering switching hosts, these articles might help you.

• Neocities and a Lack of Passion
• Neocities, NekoWeb and Originality
• Pros and Cons of FC2 Web compared to Neocities
• Why I Left Neocities

Study guides that helped me a lot during my undergrad years.

• Khan Academy
• Shmoop
• SparkNotes

• Unplatform – The definitive guide for escaping social media (and joining the indie web)

• Kwaamfam’s Resources
• Tiramisu’s shelf