How to use a website:

[maxleibman@beige.party]

How to use a website:

1. Disable your adblocker.

2. Accept all cookies.

3. Sign in to continue reading.

4. Prove you're a human.

5. Confirm your email.

6. Enter the code we texted you.

7. Subscribe to our newsletter.

8. Allow this site to send notifications.

9. Accept our privacy policy.

10. Download our app.

11. Upgrade to a paid tier.

12. Discover the site doesn't contain the content that was shown in the search results preview that led you to click in the first place.

[kinsale42@mstdn.games]

@maxleibman you forgot to let it autoplay video, that's why it failed

[drewph@ieji.de]

@maxleibman
If I have to do step 1 I just won't bother.

[scottytrees@mastodon.social]

@maxleibman that’s not just one website, that’s multiple websites and most of those that do this practice aren’t even worth visiting.

[chessert@mastodon.online]

@drewph @maxleibman

Ditto. Sites only get one strike from me now, not three.

[nicolaottomano@mastodon.uno]

@maxleibman
My website:
- No Ads
- No tracking
- No sign-in required
- Anonymous, local-only stats
- Cookie banner (but it's mandatory)

[daveography@yeg.bike]

@maxleibman

[1 hour later]: *email ping*

Subject: Where did you go new friend? We miss you!

[lxo@snac.lx.oliva.nom.br]

0. enable execution of arbitrary javascript programs

[hagbard@corteximplant.com]

@maxleibman our lord an saviour google ai search will now save us

[seindal@mastodon.uno]

@nicolaottomano

Cookie banner is only necessary if you share the data with third parties. If you have everything locally, you don't need the banner.

I use locally run analytics, have no ads, and no cookie banner.

[soozcat@raphus.social]

@maxleibman

3 years later:
"Oops, our database got hacked, your PII may be compromised"

[energisch_@troet.cafe]

@maxleibman This is the internet part of #enshittification .

[altlazybear@mas.to]

@maxleibman I just use lynx. too bad mastodon needs js.

[nyx@lgbtqia.space]

@maxleibman relatable

[Gæst]

@maxleibman ...and that's what sadly makes using AI for researching stuff so convenient.

[arek@mastodon.internet-czas-dzialac.pl]

@maxleibman you forgot about closing ads

[markotway@mastodonapp.uk]

@maxleibman
Don't forget:

13. Click the back button to return to your previous page and find yourself looking at a page of ads you never saw when you arrived.

[fenixmaster@mastodon.social]

@maxleibman Ik draai pihole en krijg regelmatig het verzoek van websites mijn add blocker uit te schakelen. Ja, daag. Dan ben ik weer weg en mis de informatie niet.

[jigmedatse@social.openpsychology.net]

@maxleibman@beige.party I skip to step 12 unless something seems very much worth jumping through all the hoops.

[gytisrepecka@social.gyt.is]

@maxleibman Internet as we have it today