What is the "small web"?

The Small Web (or Indie Web) is about creating a smaller, more human-scale internet that focuses on individual ownership and control over online presence, content, and data. It encourages the building and participation in community-driven networks and values simplicity, privacy, and direct interactions.

This stands in contrast to large corporations and platforms that dominate the mainstream web, which often feature mass surveillance, data mining, and impersonal algorithms. By fostering a diverse ecosystem of independent websites and services, the Small Web preserves the original spirit of the internet's freedom, creativity, and collaboration.

These are a collection of small web portals. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you'd like to add your site or collection of sites to the portal.

Portals


// Kagi Small WebExternal Link

Kagi's small web portal that grabs random pages!

// In Drake's Wake - The world's best Sir Francis Drake resourceExternal Link

Another search engine, but it focuses on the small web and also has a surprise search option.

// Marginalia SearchExternal Link

An independent search engine that focuses on non-commercial content. SMALL WEB!

// ooh.directory: a place to find good blogs that interest youExternal Link

Their line: "ooh.directory is a place to find good blogs that interest you."

// The ForestExternal Link

You "walk the forest" to find new and unexpected things. Another small web-focused random machine.

// Discover the IndieWeb, one blog post at a time.External Link

Focused on sites that follow the IndieWeb standard, but they seem more focused on the small web than that particular rule.

// blogs.hnExternal Link

Tech sites sourced from Hacker News.