I miss the old internet. I know, I know—I’m only 22, but hear me out. Back in the day, the internet was this vibrant, fun space where people created because they loved it. It wasn’t about fame, brands, or chasing followers. It was about expression. Remember when YouTube was filled with those goofy, colorful DIY videos? Or when Instagram was all about sharing random moments, like a picture of your dog mid-sneeze or a selfie without a filter? Those were the days, weren’t they? Now everything feels so… curated. Everyone’s life looks perfectly staged, filtered, and photoshopped. Gone are the days of spontaneous uploads. Now, it’s like you have to plan, filter, tweak, and perfect every little detail before you dare post it. It’s exhausting.

I remember when DIY videos weren’t about trying to sell you something, they were about fun, colorful pool parties, sleepovers, or just random, creative crafts. The vibe was light, spontaneous, and full of pure joy. People did cool makeup tutorials, fun skits, and funny takes on topics like “tall girl problems” or “what it’s like to be a ‘popular kid.’” It was refreshing. No one was out here trying to sell you some miracle product or acting like their life was perfect. It was just… fun.

Now, fast forward to today, and it’s like the internet has gone through some sort of weird transformation. It feels like everything is about selling a brand, gaining followers, or turning your life into a business. Social media is full of bop houses—whatever that is—kids dancing and looking older than their years, and influencers peddling skin-care products when they’re barely out of middle school. Like, why are ten-year-olds shopping at Sephora for anti-aging products? Why are teenagers who should be living their best years looking and dressing older than me? I feel like I’m the one being left behind in the “youth” department!

When I was growing up, teenagers looked like teenagers. You could tell who was a kid, who was a young adult, and who was an actual adult. Now? It’s all blurred. Teenagers are out here in full makeup, posing like they’re in their mid-twenties, and dancing to songs that aren’t even age-appropriate. That stuff just wasn’t allowed when I was younger. We didn’t have the internet flooding our lives with so many adult themes at such an early age. It makes me wonder: where’s the childhood gone? Where’s the innocence of being a teenager, learning who you are, and enjoying the little things?

And then there’s the whole social media brainwashing thing. The internet has made everyone feel like they have to be a version of themselves. People look the same, talk the same, post the same content. Fashion trends are recycled, personalities have gone out the window, and everyone’s basically on autopilot. It’s like you can’t even stand out anymore without being ridiculed. If you do something a little different, people are quick to drag you. People used to get bullied for their uniqueness, and now they get bullied for just being themselves online.

It’s crazy to think about how the internet used to be. Back when Tumblr was all about random fandoms, obscure aesthetics, and laughing at the weirdness of it all, and MySpace was a chaotic mess of sparkly GIFs and songs that represented your mood. People had personalities online, whether it was quirky, cool, or just plain weird. But now, it’s all so safe. Too safe. Too polished. I miss the days of unfiltered self-expression.

Look, I’m not saying social media doesn’t have its perks. It’s great for staying connected, learning new things, and discovering some truly amazing content. But there’s something about the old days of the internet that just felt… better. People weren’t trying to be influencers. They were just doing their thing, creating content because it made them happy.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not some internet boomer (though I kind of feel like one). It’s just hard not to feel nostalgic for a time when people were more authentic. When things were a little less curated, a little more raw, and a lot more fun. Social media has definitely evolved, but I can’t help but miss the old internet. The one that wasn’t about followers, likes, and brand deals—it was just about being you, and having fun doing it.

What happened to that?