I spent this morning driving around Pasco County—which this time of year is, trust me, not for amateurs. But while navigating the holiday traffic, I found myself reflecting on my personal history with the internet, that omnipresent force that now controls virtually everything in our lives.
The BBS Era: When the Internet Was Local
My journey began in the 1980s, before the internet as we know it existed. Armed with a 300 baud modem, I connected to local bulletin board services (BBS’s). In Pinellas County, there was even a monthly printed list of all available local BBS’s you could dial into. Most had just one phone line, though a lucky few boasted two lines. The Pinellas IBM Users Group (TBTC now) had three lines for our members to log into.
These digital gathering spots were magical in their simplicity. You could download shareware, leave messages, and join discussion groups—though “instant” messaging was impossible with only one line. You’d post something, come back later, and find someone had responded. Those asynchronous conversations were surprisingly engaging and fun. In Pinellas County there were over 100 local BBS’s and every Tuesday night there was a meetup at a bar on 66th Street North called Chuggles and it was packed wall to wall with nerds. A local BBS picnic drew hundreds of families. It was a fun time to be in the local tech world.
AOL: The Walled Garden That Changed Everything
Then came the early 1990s and America Online’s conquest of millions of users. Remember those ubiquitous disks in the mail? I just found one in my garage recently—first the 3.5-inch floppies, then the CDs promising “50 free hours of AOL!”
AOL crushed the local BBS scene, but it came at a price—literally. They initially charged by the minute, and it was expensive. Our first AOL bill hit $300 because we spent so much time exploring their chat rooms and curated content. It was a friendly, closed ecosystem for beginner internet users, and we loved it despite the cost.
The World Wide Web Opens Up
Next came the World Wide Web and Netscape Navigator, which opened everything up. I paid for dial-up access through a local provider called Internet Junction in Oldsmar. Websites were primitive and ugly by today’s standards, but this was the frontier, and it was exhilarating.
Then Microsoft decided to dominate. They gave away Internet Explorer for free—a strategic move considering you had to pay $30-$45 for Netscape Navigator. Internet Explorer was easy to use and, frankly, just better than Netscape.
The Broadband Revolution
In the early 2000s, everything changed again with DSL and cable internet. DSL ran through copper phone lines with faster, instant connections. Cable brought us Road Runner service—about $50 a month for speeds that seemed lightning-fast compared to dial-up, though painfully slow by today’s standards. Internet Junction started reselling DSL lines, and consumers suddenly had choices. Our family chose Road Runner and never looked back.
The Napster Incident
Faster downloads enabled something controversial: file sharing. I had a massive record collection—six Peach crates (If you know, you know) filled with albums that I wanted to digitize for my iPod. I asked my 12-year-old daughter to help. A week later, she’d somehow converted everything to MP3 files.
I was shocked at her speed, then horrified when I discovered she’d downloaded everything from Napster. I was furious—stealing intellectual property goes against everything I believe in. But she sat me down with the logic only a precocious 12-year-old can muster: “Dad, you bought every one of those albums. I just transferred the same music to digital files. You already paid for them. We’re not stealing.”
Her argument seemed logical, though Napster files often came with unwelcome “bonuses”—viruses that made the free music decidedly not free. I deleted all of those downloads.
Google Changes the Game
The 2000s brought Google, which revolutionized everything with its search algorithm, replacing clunky web directories. “Google it” became part of our language. Firefox and Chrome emerged as the dominant browsers. Then came the social media explosion: MySpace (remember that?), Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram—platforms that now consume vast portions of our daily lives.
The Mobile-First Era
Smartphones made the internet constant and personal. Apps replaced websites for many functions. The mobile-first, app-driven internet became our reality, making connectivity ubiquitous and unavoidable.
Today: The AI Revolution
Now we’re in the AI era. Instead of “Google it,” people say “ask ChatGPT” or another AI platform. The shift is profound, but it raises serious concerns.
A few days ago, I asked ChatGPT about earwax removal (riveting stuff, I know). Shortly after, my Facebook feed exploded with earwax removal product ads. The tracking feels creepy, a reminder that the internet isn’t free—we pay with our data and attention.
Looking Ahead with Caution
What worries me most about AI is the economics. These platforms are extraordinarily expensive to operate. Most offer free access, and even paid users aren’t covering costs—every AI company is losing money. How much of our data are they collecting to eventually monetize? It’s simultaneously exciting and terrifying.
My advice for 2025 and beyond: Move forward with technology, but keep your eyes wide open.
The internet has transformed from a hobby for tech enthusiasts to an inescapable force shaping society, commerce, and human connection. Understanding where we’ve been helps us navigate where we’re going—with both optimism and vigilance.
See you next week.