The old internet shows signs of quietly coming back

I think the reason the old internet was what it was was because the barrier to entry was much higher (computers cost a lot of money in the 90s/ early 00s, you needed to learn HTML (at a minimum) to put a website together, and you had to have a phone line available for dial up, you had to be curious or have curious friends to learn about the cool websites out there, etc.).

All of those filters meant a narrow spectrum of the population participated on the internet. It also meant the ratio of creator to consumer was much smaller. The market sold to itself (other creators), not just consumers; or in other words, the community existed to serve itself.

I think the same idea can be applied to any creative outlet (music, art..). As soon as everyone has access, and the old filters (e.g. the RIAA, publishers) are torn down, it loses its uniqueness and glamor and the culture collapses, morals aside.

The next "big thing" will have a high barrier to entry, whether it be costing a lot of money, or requiring a specific skillset that takes time to learn. It will attract driven people who live to create and build. And like everything else, the barrier will eventually be torn down leaving mediocracy in its place.