The Small Web, also known as the Smol Internet or The Dork Web, offers an alternative to the Big Internet dominated by corporate gatekeepers. It aims to create a niche for individuals to freely express themselves, with simple and transparent tech, where publishers have freedom and consumers have choice. The Finger Protocol, a 50-year-old technology, can be used to report current weather or top stories. Gopher, a predecessor of modern HTTP, attempted to solve issues of discoverability and interactive content. The Gemini protocol, similar to Gopher but with added features, aims to revive the old web. Gemini is niche, geek-friendly, and growing in popularity, but critics argue that similar experiences can be achieved through self-hosted blogs. The Gopher Renaissance is happening, and the future of Gemini is uncertain.
https://zserge.com/posts/small-web/