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In a world obsessed with innovation, is the real secret to the future simply rediscovering the past?
There’s something oddly refreshing about the thought of Xanga, LiveJournal, or even MySpace making a comeback. In an era dominated by curated grids and fleeting 24-hour stories, these early platforms offered something simpler: a space to write, reflect, and connect without the pressure of algorithms or perfection. Back then, we shared messy thoughts, poured out feelings, and customized our profiles to reflect us, not what would trend. These platforms weren’t about chasing likes; they were about building connection and embracing individuality. Could a return to these slower, more personal forms of social media be the antidote to today’s hyper-curated, always-on digital world?
As we navigate a landscape of endless notifications and performative posts, it’s worth asking: have we become too connected? Nostalgia for the early internet isn’t just about glittery profiles and Top 8 friends—it’s about reclaiming the authenticity we’ve lost in the noise. Xanga and LiveJournal encouraged reflection, not perfection, while MySpace championed individuality over sameness. Maybe what we need now isn’t a new platform, but a revival of old-school digital simplicity, where being online feels more human and a little less exhausting.
Jan 15, 2025
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Is it just me or social media is slowly but surely starting to feel wholesome again?
I might just be living in a bubble, but I feel like young people have started to realize the harm of excess scrolling, prioritizing actual connections and taking time off from internet. With all the overflowing capitalism and advertising, people are starting to create their own communities free of that, take this site for example. Not quite the Wild West internet of the y2k but something else entirely, something more.. real.
Authenticity is cool again.
Dec 29, 2024
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in the age of endless access to information, the unknown can quickly become known - though i think we've reached a point where balance is desperately needed. our brains are sensitive and absorbing information constantly whether we like it or not. i recently deleted social media from my phone and now only log on at the computer (love how many pi.fyi recs i've seen on this) - anyways i finally joined the club and see no going back. i don't want to know everything about everyone all the time and on top of that be plagued with intrusive ads (no matter how relevant they may or may not be). being present is crucial, and watching other people's lives on our phones whenever we want can definitely take one out of the present. if i were a true conspiracy theorist, i'd say it almost seems strategically designed to interrupt our normal train of thoughts and give everybody add and make us less thoughtful or make us stray from our true path. i think there's an art to boredom and liminal zones. if you're in a doctor's office waiting room or in a coffee shop waiting for your drink, i think its cool to just be nothing for a moment, limbo is a luxury and giving your consciousness and attention to something every second strips you of that temporary feeling...
if we're homies and not seeing each other in person we can text about our lives. instagram stories have begun to creep me out, i don't like how normalized casual stalking has become. i feel like it makes everyone overly analytical and constantly thinking about social dynamics all the time, injecting way too many forms of micro-anxieties for everyone throughout the day - there's value in time spent alone with our thoughts and i feel like the status quo of social media and internet without boundaries at the moment is infringing on some timeless human functions. that said we need to connect and find out about things and discover each other and using platforms like pi.fyi and instagram allow us to do so, we just need to be mindful about how we go about it. i think it's okay to not know everything all the time, mystery creates intrigue and that's stimulating enough for me...
Jun 8, 2024
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I’ve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapid—a critique often rooted in misogyny—but now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretation—preconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your image—selfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that there’s another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. It’s refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, I’ve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentional—something that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. I’ve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? It’s a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024
