Planet Internet

Hi everyone,

When I first started using social media, it felt strange. For a quiet, sometimes introspective person like me, the dynamic was odd. A post or a comment seems directed at one person, but it's really a broadcast for an audience. It’s a performance. We’re all intentionally presenting a certain version of ourselves. I'm not saying these interactions are insincere. I'm not saying we don't do this in real life. But online, it felt amplified and, frankly, a little weird.

Over time, my perspective has shifted and I've grown to appreciate that the internet creates a genuinely neat way to communicate. We have this additional set of tools—writing, images, video, audio—to express ourselves and connect with people. Plus, we can reach people all over the world.

I haven't lost those original feelings, but my perspective has grown. I'm still working on how to communicate better and truly understand the landscape of the internet.

This concept - learning to communicate and navigate the internet landscape - has come into focus with my recent work on Mandalafy.

Many years ago, I started on Facebook. Then, I tried print-on-demand on established platforms. Next, I heard that X (Twitter) was the place to go to build an audience, so I went there (and discovered social audio!). Then, I learned to build community websites. And now, I have an independent site where you create your own design and put it on a product.

Now, my job is to find the people who appreciate what I offer. The audience for Mandalafy—people who love crafts and want to design their own products—isn't just in one place. They're scrolling through visuals on Instagram and searching for ideas on Pinterest. I know they exist across this vast 'Planet Internet,' and I realize I have to explore.

All of this connects to a way I enjoy thinking about the internet. What if it's not just a collection of apps, but a physical landscape? A planet, with different countries and cultures.

Instagram is a country that speaks in visuals. Pinterest is a vast library of ideas. Each platform has its own local customs, its own tone. To connect, you must learn how to communicate effectively in each place, while still being yourself.

While picking one platform is the right path for some, I'm not a resident of any single place. I'm a citizen of Planet Internet. My home base isn't my X profile or my Instagram feed; it's the things I'm building, like my websites and this newsletter. The platforms are places I travel to, sharing my work and inviting people back home.

This mindset frees you from attachment to any one platform as they inevitably change, and transforms posting from a simple chase for followers into the intentional act of building something that lasts.

Until next time,

Dan Ryan