I can relate to the original meaning of this old term that means to be good citizen of the internet. Wikipedia says a “netizen” is someone who actively contributes to the development of the internet, not for personal gain or profit, but to make the internet a better place.
Not much to this article, but I do miss that old Web culture. Now there’s so many people. Even the slightest idea you have to contribute is usually already done by someone else. The only stuff available are really tiny niches or require some esoteric knowledge.
In 10 years you will say the same thing about today :)
The only way I’ll look fondly upon this era is if the Web somehow gets worse so that everyone is doxed and needs a license to build a Web site.
The small bright spot of the fediverse is maybe the only good thing going on right now.
