Call me old-school, but it feels like the last bastion of freedom on the internet is still the World Wide Web (yep, those “www” websites). Social media? That’s a whole other ballgame, mostly run by folks with their own agendas. Every app, every platform—controlled, filtered, and edited by the owners and developers behind them.

But when you own a website, you own that space. No filters, no middlemen. You can say what you want, post what you want, and, if you’re selling something, keep all your profits. The only catch is getting people to find it. Search engines have their own issues with agendas, but there’s a shift coming. With AI in the mix, search as we know it could look different soon.

Still, like someone said, “You have the right to free speech, but not necessarily the right to be heard.” As more social platforms tighten the reins on content, the humble website (along with podcasting) is going to stand as a solid spot for real, unfiltered voices. It might be tougher to get found, but word of mouth can work wonders.

If you find something you like out there, spread the word! And if you’re enjoying my site, the “View From The North Blog” over at mikedell.org, let people know—because this little corner of the web is where I get to be unapologetically me.