The small web movement is gaining momentum as developers create specialized tools and search engines to help users discover authentic, human-built websites. This shift represents a growing desire to move away from algorithm-driven platforms and corporate social media toward more personal, meaningful online experiences.
Specialized Search Engines Emerge for Small Web Discovery
Several search engines have been developed specifically to index and surface small web content. Marginalia and Wiby focus exclusively on simple, authentic websites built by individuals rather than corporations. These platforms prioritize personal blogs, hobby sites, and independent creators over commercial content.
Kagi, a paid search engine, has introduced a dedicated small web lens that filters results to show only sites from their curated list of authentic web properties. This approach helps users avoid the noise of commercial and algorithm-optimized content that dominates traditional search results.
Small Web Search Engines:
- Marginalia (marginalia-search.com): Focuses on simple, authentic websites
- Wiby (wiby.me): Indexes personal and hobby sites
- Kagi Small Web Lens (kagi.com/smallweb): Paid search with curated small web results
Community Tools Make Small Web More Accessible
Developers are creating innovative ways to make small web content more discoverable and manageable. One notable project filters Hacker News stories to show only submissions from small web sites, creating a more focused feed of independent content. This tool uses Kagi's curated list of small web properties to determine which stories qualify.
The challenge many users face is content curation. Unlike corporate platforms that use algorithms to surface potentially interesting content, small web discovery requires more intentional effort. RSS feeds from personal blogs can feel overwhelming without algorithmic filtering, leading some community members to seek middle-ground solutions.
Community Tools:
- Small Web Hacker News: Filters HN stories to show only small web submissions (hcker.news/?smallweb=true)
- 16colors ANSI Art: Autoscroller of ANSI art from the 90s onwards (16colo.rs/es3.php)
- Kagi Small Web List: Curated list of authentic web properties on GitHub
Mixed Reception Reveals Community Divide
The small web movement faces some skepticism within the tech community. Critics argue that personal blogs and independent sites often lack the quality and relevance of content found on larger platforms. Some users find small web content too personal or niche to maintain their interest over time.
However, supporters counter that this criticism misses the point entirely. The goal isn't to replace all online activity but to create space for more thoughtful, less addictive internet use. Many users report significant improvements in mental health and focus after reducing their consumption of algorithm-driven content.
Getting away from that is a good thing. You shouldn't be interested in everything that is put in front of your face. You don't have the time for it and it's unhealthy to devote your time to consuming it.
Long-term Adoption Shows Promise
Several community members report successfully maintaining small web habits for years. These users typically combine RSS feeds, independent search engines, and curated content sources while avoiding social media platforms that promote endless scrolling and engagement-driven content.
The movement appears to work best when combined with increased real-world activities and intentional relationship building. Rather than completely abandoning all modern web services, successful adopters tend to be selective about which platforms they use and how they engage with them.
The small web movement represents more than just nostalgia for simpler times online. It reflects a growing awareness of how algorithm-driven platforms affect mental health and attention spans, pushing some users toward more deliberate and sustainable internet habits.
Reference: A Small Web July