As someone who values privacy and the open web, I’ve been fascinated by the growing movement away from centralised platforms toward more personal, user-controlled online experiences. What surprised me recently was discovering just how many people are embracing these concepts without even knowing their names.

IndieWeb

The IndieWeb is a community of people who own their websites and content rather than posting to third-party platforms (like Medium, Substack, etc). It’s built on principles like:

  • Owning your content and data
  • Building a decentralised web
  • Connecting your site with others through open standards like POSSE
  • Having control over your online identity

IndieWeb enthusiasts use their own domains to publish content, connect with others, and maintain control over their digital presence.

For more information, visit IndieWeb

Small Web

The Small Web refers to the collection of personal, often non-commercial websites created by individuals rather than corporations. These sites typically:

  • Are passion projects, digital garden or personal expressions
  • Don’t prioritise SEO or monetisation
  • Have smaller audiences but more meaningful connections
  • Represent the human side of the internet beyond corporate platforms

The Small Web is about creating digital spaces that reflect genuine human interests and connections, free from the pressures of engagement metrics.

There is a good article: Kagi Small Web and a repository for a curated list of Small Web.

Key differences

While related, these concepts have distinct focuses:

  • IndieWeb is more technical and standards-focused, providing tools and protocols for owning your content
  • Small Web is more philosophical, emphasising personal expression over technical implementation
  • IndieWeb sites can be part of the Small Web, but not all Small Web sites follow IndieWeb principles
  • IndieWeb is about building infrastructure, while Small Web is about building community

What excites me most is finding people naturally gravitating toward these ideas without necessarily knowing the terminology.

They’re tired of algorithmic feeds, data harvesting, and the performative nature of social media.

They want something more authentic, more human.