"Creativity Was King": Early Internet Websites People Miss Out on These Days

Matt Staff is a staff writer at Cheapism covering culture, shifting finance trends, and the latest worthwhile threads on Reddit. Based in Brooklyn, he’s written and edited for leading entertainment sites and most recently was the Managing Editor for a search marketing company named Wickfire.

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01

The Internet Used To Be A Far Different Place.

If there's one theme in particular that seems to be running rampant throughout this AskReddit-inspired piece about throwback websites that Gen Z missed out on, it's that the internet definitely used to have a whole lot more egoless, occasionally non-monetarily motivated content provided to its users. 


Whether it was the days that flew by being filled up with whatever new and free game you could sink your mind's teeth into via AddictingGames.com, or something as simple as fostering new friendships with folks on MSN Messenger, the times have certainly shifted toward uncharted waters. Thanks, TikTok. 


And now, let the nostalgia take you down memory lane. 

01
Reddit

Money, Money, Money.

This is definitely an interesting take on how forums could've potentially hosted more productive conversations than what you otherwise might come across in a thread that's bigger simply for the sake of generating more money. 

02
Reddit

It Used To Be A Wild West Out There.

Truly, how many poor computers were completely fried as a result of impulsive and entirely ill-conceived downloads by people that thought they were prudently (albeit criminally) downloading something like antivirus software? I would go so far as to guess quite a few. 


Related: Watch Out for These Scams Targeting Seniors

03
Reddit

This Rings Painfully True.

In all unfortunate fairness, the cost of living is steadily on its rise out there. Naturally, folks might be that much more motivated to try to find ways to hack the "game" and stack the cash. 

04
Reddit
06
Reddit

Some Real Bonds Were Formed Through Live Journal.

Live Journal took the whole idea of being pen pals to a new level back in the day. 


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06
Reddit

Oh Yeah, Throwback DeviantArt Was Something Else.

It's high time to give some of those starving and aspiring amateur artists their flowers. 

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08
Reddit

Never Forget.

There are many people out there that have nothing but the fondest memories of their time spent interacting with Homestar Runner. (Thankfully, the site is still around!)

08
Reddit

So Many Hidden Gems.

If you know you know. AddictingGames was an absolute goldmine of surprise treasures when it came to unexpected, vaguely mindless, yet entirely entertaining mini games. 

09
Reddit