Where do I see the IndieWeb in 2030
In response to December’s IndieWeb carnival hosted by V.H. Belvadi.
IndieWeb 2030 will likely resemble today’s version, except it will be more diverse, uneven, decentralized, fragmented, and bizarre. However, I doubt more than 5% of users will be involved because of the high learning curve and the new skills required. It won’t be any more than what Big Tech leaves after harvesting. But I’m sure everyone will have fun - like those children on the Bruegel’s painting.
The future of the IndieWeb depends on whether it remains a community of web technology enthusiasts or evolves into a more expansive concept (World Wild Web? Freenet? Infranet?).
I hope to see the following ideas develop further over the next five years in the IndieWeb:
- Better syndication for everyone - developing bridges and gateways between protocols and communities. The concept of POSSE makes sense, but it doesn’t have to be site-centralized. Any digital entity - be it a website, a Mastodon account, a GitHub repository, a Gemini capsule, or a mailing group - should be treated as an equal infopod, or digital entity of personal preference. Hence, POISE.
- Breaking away from tweeting: the return of mailing lists, forums, and other forms of communication that feature larger, more conscious content.
- Encourage slower, asynchronous communication. Increase friction to discourage overconsumption and the unthoughtful use of resources. Slow is enough for small things.
- Simpler, cross-platform instant messaging: IRC and XMPP.
- Development of self-unfolding, prefabricated servers. Imagine a physical analog of a Docker container: a small box that only needs to be powered up and connected to a network to start delivering a service.
- Sharing resources. Participating in decentralized storage, digital archiving, collective renderfarms, lightning networks, etc.
- Implementation of low-tech, Smolweb, and digital minimalism ideas. Promoting low-resource, alternative-powered, minimal setups and low-cost solutions.
- Use of alternative mesh communication networks: LoRa, Bluetooth, LDR.
- Wider support and usage of e-ink
Updated (2026-01-03): Follow up with the Canival round-up
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