A blog is an artifact of an internet that does not exist anymore, replaced by major platforms that gather all content. So why on earth am I writing a blog in 2026? There are many reasons:
The decay of the organic internet
Today’s internet is dominated by major platforms that host most content. In some ways, this was a natural evolution: it lowers the barrier to entry as people do not need to understand web hosting to maintain an online presence, and it helps with discoverability since that is usually outsourced to the platform. The rise of huge platforms also grew the internet through network effects which made monetization more viable as the reach of ads and sponsorships becomes broader. It is not unreasonable to think of YouTuber or influencer as viable careers for the lucky few who manage to catch a break.
Do I think this evolution is wrong? Of course not, as I stated before, I think it was only natural. In practice, it allowed for the democratization of a huge amount of content and for many people to focus on creation full time. In my opinion, the amount of “free” content and knowledge one can get from the internet is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Also, it is impossible to deny that this current state of the internet is what people in the aggregate want, consciously or not, as it works. However, I think this is a trade-off: as content becomes more professional, it becomes less organic in the aggregate.
The problem with the current monetization model is that it creates an incentive to maximize engagement and volume at all costs. This resulted in an internet dominated by clickbait, outlandish claims, and inauthentic content. The rise of GenAI made this problem even worse: the barrier to creation is basically non-existent now, meaning that most human content will drown in a sea of slop. For example, Hacker News is one place that, in my opinion, got worse over time. I used to read submissions directly; over time I learned to check the comments first to filter out what was worth reading; now I rarely bother with either. As Hacker News grew more mainstream, it was already losing some of its edge; AI has made it trivial to flood it with slop submissions and comments, pushing out the people who are genuinely obsessed with what they’re sharing.
Thinking and archiving
Another point is that, for me, writing is an exercise in rationalizing and organizing my thoughts. It forces me to articulate my reactions and understand them, going deeper than my initial impressions. While this could easily be done in a private diary, putting my text in a public space holds me to a higher standard and ensures nothing I publish is half-baked. In the past, I tried to keep private diaries but most entries would be too rushed, never receiving the proper polish I should give them, and I failed to be consistent in producing and archiving them properly.
Keeping my thoughts in writing is also a way to remember. Many experiences can only be lived once, as I will never be able to experience Outer Wilds or Nier: Automata for the first time again. Registering my thoughts in the moment is a way for me to connect with them in the future, regardless of whether I still agree with them or not. I look forward to the day several years from now when I will be able to take a look at this blog and see how I changed over time.
Building for the sake of it
I also take great joy in creating things (it is one of the reasons I like being an engineer). Maintaining a blog is another way of building something, and watching it grow brings me happiness as the journey is reward enough.
I still wish for the internet to be an expression of human knowledge and creativity. I don’t know how to do this at a macro level, and I don’t think it is my responsibility, but I find it hard to complain without doing my part. This blog is my part.