Before social media algorithms decided what you should read next, websites were connected through human trust. Webrings and blogrolls were the original discovery engine of the internet, and they are experiencing a major revival.
The mechanics of mutual discovery
A webring is a collection of sites linked together in a circular structure. Each site contains navigation controls to jump to the previous or next site in the ring. A blogroll, similarly, is a simple list of recommended sites curated by an author.
Why human curation beats the algorithm
Algorithms optimize for engagement, which often leads to outrage and repetition. Human recommendation lists optimize for affinity, sharing sites simply because someone thought they were neat or valuable.
Advantages of decentralized discovery
- No single point of failure or centralized platform controlling traffic.
- Authentic recommendations based on shared interests rather than viral potential.
- Direct connections between independent creators and readers.
- Serendipitous browsing that leads you to unusual, hyper-niche projects.
Joining the small web movement
Adding a blogroll or joining a topic-specific webring is one of the simplest steps you can take to help keep the independent web interconnected.