Is the internet shrinking?

To answer the main question, is the internet shrinking? No. In fact it is expanding, both in users and hosted content.

As of April 2024, 5.44 billion people around the world were using the internet. That is 67.1 percent of the world’s total population. This population grew by 178 million people April 2023 to April 2024 - a 3.4 percent increase YoY. ¹

As of January 2024, almost 1.1 billion websites are available online. When compared to January 2008, which had almost 156 million websites, that is a growth of 593%. ²

All that expansion must mean it's better all around, right?

Let's face it, the internet is about monetization and engagement farming. It sucks. Long gone are the days where you hope to find simple answers to questions. I'd like to provide some relief to that - starting with this site first.

What can you expect to find on shrinkage.fyi?

answers to questions related to shrinkage.

What can you expect NOT to find on shrinkage.fyi?

ads;
cookies;
external links;
tracking pixels;
paid affiliate links;
cookie consent prompts;
browser notification requests;
email newsletter signup solicitations;
meandering, pointless content for search engines.

In fact, you will not find any kind of technological sophistication here at all. This site publishes static HTML webpages of text. It has the intent to provide quick and clear answers to your questions.

Welcome. I hope you find it refreshing.

https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview ↩︎
https://siteefy.com/how-many-websites-are-there ↩︎

Is the internet shrinking?

The question that feels silly to ask. The internet is an integrated part of our lives and there is more to it.

tl;dr - No, the internet is not shrinking - but your enjoyment of it likely is.