I can’t recognize this Internet anymore.

Two decades ago, the internet was a vast, open frontier — a place where individuals from diverse backgrounds could engage in meaningful conversations, share ideas, and challenge each other’s perspectives. Forums, chat rooms, and early social media platforms thrived on the principle of free expression, fostering communities built on curiosity and mutual respect.

Fast forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically shifted. The rise of algorithm-driven content curation, stringent moderation policies, and community enforcement mechanisms have, in many cases, stifled the very essence of open dialogue. Let’s delve into how this transformation has unfolded across major platforms.

Stack Overflow: From Collaborative Learning to Rigid Gatekeeping

Stack Overflow was once a haven for developers seeking assistance and sharing knowledge. However, recent moderation trends suggest a move towards stringent control:

• Over 1 million posts deleted in 2023, with 102,874 removals by moderators and 621,929 by community users.

• 288,012 questions closed, often due to duplication or not meeting specific formatting guidelines.

While maintaining quality is essential, the sheer volume of closures and deletions indicates a potential overemphasis on conformity, possibly…