"Don't Go Changing"by Bryce Crosby

Being only 21 years of age, I don’t remember a time without the Internet and all its wonderful time wasting abilities. While my father gripes and groans about how we have it so easy with word processors and online research compared to his typewriter and spending hours at the library looking through all kinds of books, I realize that as technology changes, one day I will be the one complaining how the future generations will have it even easier (in the future I believe typing will become obsolete as voice to text will be refined to perfection).

While the early stages of the Internet were perceived as a fad, this was definitely not the case. The Internet contains thousands of examples of one hit wonders that died off after a certain period, but some stood the test of time. The first website I ever created was using Geocities, an Internet sensation in the mid to late 90’s, where you could make a website about anything you wanted, absolutely free. While they did not have the search engine results and custom URLs we are accustomed to today, they were a way for anyone to add content to the World Wide Web in its infancy. This was very exciting back then; today not so much.

Lookout Facebook and Twitter
This could be why after many years of existence Geocities is shutting down. That’s right, one of those amazing online websites that everyone went crazy for when they first came out is shutting down. As you read this, are you panicking at the thought of all those wall posts and tweets being lost? I know I am.

People may try to make themselves feel better at the thought of this by saying: “Geocities doesn’t even compare to Facebook or Twitter” or “Facebook is way too popular to ever shut down”. While yes, Geocities would lack in comparison to Facebook or Twitter, there are also years of separation between them. The Internet is a rapidly evolving enigma that can be very unpredictable. It took Geocities years to lose its popularity, but nonetheless, it lost.

Others may argue that Facebook and Twitter make too much money (or are going to) to ever shut down. Did you know Yahoo bought Geocities in 1999 for $3.5 billion in stocks? Yes, I said that this tiny little copy and paste website company was worth $3.5 billion in 1999. While many say that Yahoo spent $3.5 billion too much, it was a simple buying decision for them: Geocities was popular, looked like a good investment, so they bought it. Wouldn’t you buy Facebook today if you could?

Social Media on High Alert
“Don’t go changing.” That famous quote heard around the world from Billy Joel echoed through the hearts of many. Sadly, the Internet never heard it (yes it is indexed in Google. Don’t get smart with me), and has been changing and growing faster than anyone could have ever dreamed. So the next time you upload photos from your family vacation to your Facebook profile, or Tweet about how you love what Obama is doing for the United States, remember our fallen soldier of the Internet battlefield: Geocities.

Will your photos and tweets still be there in 10 years, or will they be brushed aside by some new social media site (one can only speculate its features and time wasting applications). Rest in peace Geocities, you fought hard for many years, but the Internet takes no prisoners. Facebook and Twitter: prepare the offensive!