ChatGPT TLDR:

The article "Why the Internet Isn't Fun Anymore" from The New Yorker discusses the decline in the enjoyment and utility of major online platforms. It focuses on how platforms like Twitter (referred to as "X" in the text), under Elon Musk's ownership, have become dominated by paid, blue-check users often spreading far-right views and disinformation. The algorithm promotes these posts, suppressing more diverse content. The decline is also evident in the spread of fake news and mislabeled videos.

The article notes similar issues with other platforms. Instagram's feed is now filled with old posts and ads, Google searches are cluttered, and Facebook's parent company, Meta, is introducing artificial-intelligence chatbots with gimmicky personalities. These developments point to a larger trend: the Internet becoming less about human interaction and more about passive consumption and commercial interests.

The author reflects on the earlier days of the Internet, which was more open and spontaneous, offering diverse and engaging content. This change is attributed to a few large social networks centralizing online experiences. As these platforms change or decline, like Twitter under Musk, there's no comparable alternative for users.

The article also discusses the shift in social media dynamics, with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch resembling broadcast stations rather than spaces for interactive communication. The rise of video-based platforms and the blending of physical and digital lives have increased the pressure to conform and perform, discouraging casual posting.

Finally, the article touches on how lifestyle changes, like remote work, have reduced idle online exploration. The decline in organic referrals to news sites from social media further impacts the diversity of content. The author nostalgically recalls the enjoyment of simpler online activities, like playing Flash games on sites like Orisinal, contrasting it with the current, less satisfying state of major social networks.