The Rise and Fall of Urbit

During the 2020 Covid lockdowns, the privately owned realms of the internet became the obligatory venues for public life. As Amazon, Microsoft, Apple and Google saw their stock prices soar, I became more frustrated with how much of my time and attention was absorbed by Big Tech platforms. Even before the pandemic, group chats had grown into first-rate gossip venues and Zoom calls were displacing in-person meetings. Tech companies promised increased “connection,” but the reality was isolating.