20 web design relics of the old internet

At the turn of the Millennium, the internet was rapidly integrating into daily life, with many people buying their first computers to go online, and web design practices were still evolving through trial and error. Early web platforms like Geocities enabled users to create personal websites, while browsing experiences were limited by specific browser and resolution recommendations. Developers relied on image-heavy layouts and HTML tables due to nascent CSS support, and creative, though often cumbersome, features like animated GIFs, scrolling marquees, and auto-playing MIDI files were common. Social interactions took place on message boards and guestbooks, which have since been largely replaced by social media. The era also saw the rise and fall of Internet Explorer as the dominant browser, until competition from Firefox and Chrome revitalized browser technology. Many of these early internet practices have been replaced or evolved into modern equivalents, highlighting the significant progress in web development and user experience.