Modern Websites Suck

A few days ago I had to create an Instagram account. Some of you may ask why not use IRC, XMPP, or even Matrix; well it’s not fully possible to convince everyone to switch. So I did the browser setup. I was on Android using Ironfox (a fork of the Mull browser, which was based on Firefox; “was” in the sense it isn’t exactly “alive and thriving” anymore), I forgot too even connect to a VPN. Instantly I was prompted to enter my phone number, with the option for email verification being grayed out so as to stop you from using it. So I first tried to use a temporary email service but it turned out to be blocked. Then I remembered I had a throwaway email ID from proton (not that I recommend it but I had it so I decided to use it). After using the email to confirm I’m a human I was finally given an account at last -.-.

So I tried to login into my account, turns out even before I could login my account got flagged under some community guidelines shit and there was no way to access it except using a phone number for verification. So I used a temporary phone number but the service was blocked so I had to use my own phone number to confirm my ID. So end of story right? They now have the phone number they desperately wanted but not yet.

Three days later my account again got flagged that I violated some community guidelines. I didn’t even use Instagram for watching the posts or scrolling reels(I’m mentally incapable of doing that), but if that was the reason, I got flagged for watching something on their own website. What about Instagram looking through my messages? I only messaged one person who I talked about for 10 minutes, nothing controversial and, that’s it; I really can’t think of any reason to flag my account this time except for them wanting even more information. Angry as I was I decided to proceed with it. First I was made to solve three CAPTCHAs one after other. Then I had to go through phone number verification… didn’t I already give them my number a few days ago; but all of that wasn’t enough for them, now they wanted a picture of my face as well. I really wanna kill myself now. In the end annoyed, I was forced to install the app something that looks smooth on the surface but has a lot more tracking under the hood. Now I doubt they will ever flag my account, now that I’m a loyal dog.

“The most effective way to restrict democracy is to transfer decision-making from the public arena to unaccountable institutions.” — Noam Chomsky

The experience of using the website itself, it was slow as hell, due to being bloated with JavaScript that tracked down your every single movement. Next reason being unnecessary features, if a user only wants to use your service for some messaging, you should have the option to disable the other features you don’t use, or at least they shouldn’t be loaded.

Services like XMPP allows you to resister with just a username and a password, you can message each other in real time, send voice messages, pictures, videos, documents, or anything else including audio and video calls. They can’t read your messages even if they wanted. If they ban you from their server just join a new one plus you can have your own server if you wanted.

That’s the difference between a service that’s designed only to use you as a cash cow; and a service that respects users and, does not treat privacy as a premium feature.

I talked about Instagram in this case but this really applies to any other “Modern Websites”. Everywhere you go, you are required to accept cookies, get blasted with ads. Now I get why the major part of the world would prefer 10 different apps all to spy on them too just using a browser. Services try their utmost to spy on you and show you ads; because it’s far more profitable for them, if we keep using their apps, where you can’t block any ads as easily as a browser and can’t stop the spying, or inspect the source like you can do on a web page.

Even indie websites will add Google Analytics to their sites or other services of such kind like Meta Pixel, bloat their website with CSS and JavaScript. Some outright refusing to open if you don’t have them enabled. So I created this website as an example, that running your website without ads or bloatware or spyware or SEO or any other shit is completely possible. I will never bloat my website with CSS or JavaScript, I will try my best to make this website work across all browsers even those which have a TUI like w3m or lynx. Although my website does contain some CSS it’s not to the point it will slow down your browser and it serves the purpose of making the website look somewhat okay(the theme and layout I’m currently using is a custom version of XMin which is less than 150 lines in total). Even if I add JavaScript later it will purely be something that is completely optional and not required for the website and not meant to track or abuse you in any way.

“It seems that perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Even though I’m using Neocities currently which has some level of tracking, it’s because I currently don’t have the means to host this website on an actual server, this website was programmed on Android using termux with a virtual keyboard YES a virtual keyboard. So when I’m able too finally make the switch I will do so immediately. I will mirror the site on Neocities as well but it be the secondary place to host my site.